Title: The Last Stand
Rating: R
Warnings: Rated accordingly for scenes of graphic violence, language, scene of sexual nature, and scary plot-bunnies. OooOooo.
Characters: Severus Snape, Remus Lupin, Voldemort, Original Character Nicole Harris, Trio, Weasleys
Pairings: SS/OC, RL/NT, HP/GW, RW/HG
Summary: In an effort to grow stronger the Order takes in old friend Nicole Harris and once enemy Severus Snape to defeat Voldemort's forces and lead Harry to a successful end of evil. In the struggle for good against evil challenges arise that may bring harm to the cause. (HPB spoilers)
Author Note: I've been working on this plot line for nearly 3 months and now I finally find myself ready to share it with you all. I hope you all enjoy and please do leave reviews. I need your support to continue writing this.
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London, England
"Sir, what exactly are we looking for?" Peters said as the two searched through Nicole's abandoned desk. Dust coated the air and the breeze had long stopped three hours ago.
"We, my dear boy, are looking for any personal documents of hers. Letters, journals…something that can let us know where she might be exactly." They had sprawled nearly all her files on the ground by now and her desk drawers looked ransacked.
"But Sir," Peters stopped, "I thought you said you knew where she was? If this 'magical world' is where she is, then she is there." Peters still in disbelief at what the detective told him held true to his tone because the detective stopped working on the pile of papers and glared at Peters.
"The world of magic covers our own world Peters. Everything that has happened, the bridge…the murders- all of it Dark magic…" The detective turned to a picture of Nicole and her once happy family on a nearby shelf. "You see Peters, Nicole finds herself in a world where she cannot hide anymore. She sees the dark power arising again…that is why she left."
"If she left, and you know what…where…Why are we still investigating?" Peters asked confusion coating his face once again. The detective stood silent then turned to Peters.
"Because we need to find her…I need to know where she is. Where exactly she went…" Peters dropped the file on Nicole on the desk with a loud slap.
"I'm tired Sir, I haven't seen my wife in a few days…I think this is just a waste of our time if we know she is okay. If she is in this 'magical world'" he huffed as her said this, "then…it isn't our problem."
The detective smiled and reached into his coat. "It matters Peters." He pulled out a long wand. "Because I need her…to kill her before she finds a way to stop my Master." Before Peters could react and flash of green shot from the tip of the 'detectives' wand and Peters fell to the ground with a loud thud, dead. Taking a quick glance at Peters, the 'detective' turned to the shelf grabbing the picture of Nicole and smiling at it.
"You've no idea what is coming your way girl…no idea at all." And with a loud pop he was gone. A strong breeze blew through the open window and all the papers on the abandoned desk whirled over the limp body of George Peters.
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"Remus you said you wouldn't do this!" Nicole screamed as Order members seized Severus' arms and dragged him away to the dark dungeon of the household Servintine.
"I never promised anything Nicole, now please-" Remus took hold of Nicole as she tried to race after Severus, who looked wildly around as three large cloaked figures dragged him down a large dark hallway to his 'dungeon' for the night.
"Remus this is ridiculous. We shouldn't be treating him…he is not the enemy!" Nicole felt her body shake as she tried to convince Remus to overturn the orders, but nothing would be done.
"Nicole, listen to me…you are tired. You mustn't!" Remus tried to grab Nicole as she escaped his grasp and ran down the dark hallway Severus' was pulled down seconds before. "Arthur, tell Molly a pot of tea should be readied. Miss Harris is in good need of some." Arthur, who stood next to Remus nodded in agreement and went towards the kitchen. "This is going to be a long night."
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"You know this isn't right Remus. He has information we could use…what makes you think he will willingly give us the information if he is being imprisoned by us?" Nicole said as Molly poured a steaming cup of tea in front of her. "Thank you Mrs. Weasley."
"Nicole….Nicky please, Severus did not expect to be welcomed back after what he did. He…knew there would be affairs between him and the Order. You cannot let this get to you. I know you have seen so much worse. We aren't going to do him in just for coming to us. We just need…We need him safe and he is safest locked away and under our watchful eye." Remus felt his eyes become heavy and he yawned. "Now I know we all could use a good nights rest. Get some sleep, will you?" Remus stood and walked into the hallway meeting a beautiful young pink-haired witch. Putting his arm around her they walked down the hall to the bedroom quarters.
Nicole sat, her tea still steaming and her eyes still watery, and thought about what Remus had said. "Of course he knew…" she muttered under her breath. Molly Weasley sat down next to Nicole and they sat there for a few moments of silence.
"Dear, I realize your past with Severus…but you cannot let it get in the way of your duty for the Order. You asked to help us and we are allowing you to become a part of this…" Mrs. Weasley repositioned herself to face Nicole. Taking Nicole's hand in her own, "Nicole, Severus is not all good." Nicole looked at Mrs. Weasley in disgust. "BUT! - He isn't all bad. He is a man with a task at hand. He owes Dumbledore his life, and with that said Nicole, Severus intends to end the Dark Lord…Nicole…Severus will not live to see a new day after the fall. I'm sorry." Nicole turned from Mrs. Weasley, her lips quivering and her eyes blurring with tears. "You drink your tea and I'll show you to your room. You need to sleep."
Nicole took a few sips of her tea and stood with Mrs. Weasley. "Mrs. Weasley…I can only hope that what you said…that the debt Severus has changes." Mrs. Weasley smiled weakly and pulled Nicole into her arms and guided her down the outer hallway to her bedroom.
Nicole felt her body relax in a down bed and she opened her eyes to a slightly boarded window. Outside the moon still floated, blood red and eerie. Nicole closed her eyes and fell asleep.
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Severus Snape was a man used to darkness and cold, but the cellar was a step back from the warmth of Nicole. He sat in a chair, very uncomfortable, in the corner of the cellar and remembered how close Nicole was to him back at the house he hid in. I could have just died…Severus touched his fingertips to his lips and felt his stomach lurch. He trusted her; even after the years they spent apart, and still loved her after the thousands of lonely nights. Nicole once was his…and then-
"Severus." Remus walked into room letting some light in from the hallway. It was morning and Severus never closed his eyes to sleep. "I trust you understand why you were put here." Remus conjured a second chair and sat a few feet from where Severus was.
"Because I killed the Order leader…" He hadn't said Dumbledore's name since that night… "I assume you understand why I did it though, if you did get my memory from Nicole." Severus remembered the night Nicole came to his door. She was so scared and how she had found him was beyond him, but there she was out in the cold of the night waiting for him…
"Severus…did you sleep at all last night?" Remus asked. Severus sneered at the question.
"Could you sleep in here?" Severus gave a haughty laugh and smiled. "Of course you could…" Half-breed piece of-
"It was best for you to be locked under key and watched by our men…it gave the other confidence in my decision." Remus stood. "You have a visitor." He walked to the door and nodded. In walked Nicole, her face calm and her body eager… "I'll be back in five minutes." Remus exited closing the door.
"Nicole…I…" Severus stood, weakly catching himself on the top of the chair. Nicole briskly strode to his side, grabbing his arm and helping him into the chair. "I was worried that you…" Before he could finish his sentence she put a finger to his lips and smiled.
"I'm fine Severus, question is are you?" She raised an eyebrow. He closed his eyes and opened them, trying to remove the image of her with him like so long ago.
"I didn't sleep last night, I haven't eaten and…Nicole, you need to get my papers from my trunk and show them. There is some very important information that can lead you to- Nicole." She sat on his knee and pressed her forehead to his and closed her eyes. He too closed his eyes and brought his hands to hers.
"Don't worry about that Severus, I've already shown them the papers. They are studying them…information is out there. Severus, I came down here to originally talk Remus into letting you out, but he won't until they get confirmation that your information is real. We can only wait…can you tell me where we should look? To get quick confirmation…something that can help." Severus brought his hands to her face and pulled her close and kissed her. She drew in a sharp breath then sighed… "Severus…" She kissed him back and let her hands wander his chest. Pulling away from the kiss she smiled. "I've missed you too." Before they could say anymore the door latch creaked and Nicole stood. Remus walked in and nodded to Nicole. "Anything?"
"That's my question. Severus, they need proof that you are not in the wrong. What can you tell me?" Remus made his way to where Nicole and Severus stood. "We have reviewed your notes and don't know our next move. There is so much said Severus, but not enough to give direction."
"Isn't that your job, to direct your people?" Severus mocked.
"Severus." Nicole scolded. Severus cringed and looked at Remus directly.
"The Carrows are working out of a rundown mill in Essex. Best way to get to them is during mid morning. They have a tendency to be out all night and day so they are weakest at that point." Severus said without a stitch of disdain in his voice as he looked directly at Remus. "They would be a good catch." He said, finishing with a slightly cocked head and sneer at Remus. "Satisfied?"
Remus moved to the door. "Not yet Severus…Not yet…" Nicole looked to Severus and smiled. With a quick squeeze of his hand she left after Remus and Kingsley Shacklebolt, guard for Severus, closed the door and locked it.
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"Hestia and I are heading out tonight. We need to watch them for now before we move in on them. We don't even know for sure if they are truly out there." Remus said to Tonks as he packed a heavy cloak and a few papers with information on the Carrows into his bag. Tonks moved to his side and looked at him with pleading eyes.
"Don't go…let Moody do this. He wanted to. He voiced-" Remus brought his hand to her cheek and smiled. "Please."
"Nymph-" Tonks huffed a little, "Tonks." He moved her close to him. "I will be fine. Hestia and I will be fine…We need to get this done as soon as possible so to clear Severus…for now." Tonks rolled her eyes and moved to the fully boarded window and leaned against the wall.
"It's bloody mad he's even being slightly trusted. Why did you believe 'Nicky'?" Tonks was not a jealous person, but the use of Nicole Harris' nickname by Remus was odd to Tonks.
"Nicole Harris…Nicky, is an old friend. She was the youngest daughter of Dorcas and Evan Meadows. She wasn't there the night Voldemort came and killed the Meadows and nearly killed the youngest brother; drove him to insanity with the Cruciatus Curse. Since then Nicky has gone into hiding and hid her brother away." Tonks shifter her eyes feeling slightly foolish for making Nicole out to be something she wasn't.
"Nicole came to the Order because she knew the Dark Lord had returned and she wasn't going to let it go on anymore…she doesn't want anyone to even endure the pain she felt when her entire family was murdered. All of them…gone."
Tonks moved to Remus and wrapped her arms around him. She cried and Remus pulled her into a warm embrace and let her cry.
"Don't die on me Remus. I can't have that." Tonks whimpered. Remus only pulled her closer, kissed her and looked into her eyes, agreeing that he would never leave her with a single look.
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The night came slowly in Essex and Remus watched the only rundown Mill that was marked on a map Severus had drawn. He looked to Hestia who watched the area around them. They hid in a low bank of brush and stone.
Once night had left and the sun rose in the east, Remus and Hestia moved closer to the mill, making no sound. They approached a broken window and took a quick peak. Alecto and brother Amycus sat at a rickety table in the middle of the room eating a small breakfast.
Remus nodded to Hestia and they moved in.
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"Severus?" Nicole lightly shook Severus as he slept slouched in his chair in the dark cellar. "Severus, wake up…they…they got them." She was a foot from his face as he awoke his eyes blurred and slightly cranky.
Severus only felt her warm hand on his arm and he blacked out once more.
"Remus, please let him be moved to a proper room?" Remus shook his head at Nicole.
"All rooms are taken Nicky, you know that." Remus waited for her answer- what he expected from her.
"My room…he can have my room." She stood. "You know this is a good place for him. He is cold, tired…ill. Remus, I will sleep on the couch. Please."
"No. Severus is used to these harsh conditions." Kingsley chimed from the hallway and walked in. "I won't have a lady like you giving him such comforts. He should grow use to this feeling…he will be in the cold earth soon." Nicole shot a look of anger at Kingsley before Remus interrupted before Nicole could fire back. "Quite enough Kingsley…Nicole come. We need to go." Remus left the room, Nicole following suit, but before she left she threw her cloak off and draped it over Severus letting her hand rest on his chin.
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AUTHORS NOTE: So I know the excitement isn't really there yet but I must set the grounds for this story. I hope you all enjoy the story. New chapter soon, I promise.