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: So things are starting to get better. I really hope you all like this chapter. It's a pretty good one for explanations of how Severus and Nicole 'know each other' and a preview of what is to come. This chapter has some RL/NT love…

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"Remus this is ridiculous! You can't expect just us to fight this war! We need allies…we need more help!" An Order member cried out.

The Order had gathered in front of the large fireplace in the Servintine ballroom for what was supposed to be an informational meeting, but it had turned rough. Remus paced in front of the fireplace. He didn't expect that being a leader would be so hard, and with utmost respect he damned Dumbledore for ever leaving…

"I understand your concern, but you must understand we can easily take in people to help fight, but they may go bad. Turn and give our information to the Dark Lord and then we can easily call ourselves finished." Remus looked to Tonks for some sort of agreement from her. She stood and turned to the other members.

"Remus is right. It would take days to just check a person out and that would require us to focus all our resources on one thing and we can't afford to stop for a few days. If we did, we may miss something…or something might happen." A few nodded heads gave comfort to Tonks, she had helped Remus.

"So, what can we do? Any alternatives for our problem?" Remus looked around the room. The faces were all tired and confused. No one had an idea.

"I do." Nicole stood and spoke up a little louder. "I know what we should do."

Remus nodded and waved his hand for her to come forward. "Explain your idea Nicole."

"I'm not yet really 'trained' to go out and pull missions as you all do," she said looking at the other members, "but I know I am very good at organization and my judgment has always been good." A few people puffed at that last comment for she had trusted Severus Snape, a murderer and traitor still in their eyes. "I can look for people, study their backgrounds…figure out if they are beneficial to our fight." Nicole stood in front of the fire as it crackled in silence. The members sat, thinking about what she had said.

"You can't do it all on your own Nicole. Someone should help you." Tonks spoke up. Nicole and Tonks were not friends, and as far as Nicole could see Tonks never really became 'nice' with her, but she seemed sincere.

"That is true Nicole. You will need help." Remus said, looking to Molly Weasley.

"I know the perfect pair of girls to help you out Nicole." Molly said, knowing what Remus was looking for in her. "…my daughter Ginny and family friend Hermione Granger. Smart girls, organized, and willing to do all they can to help." Nicole looked to Remus.

"Good enough." Remus said, and looked to Nicole. "You are to begin tomorrow. We will clear one of the upstairs rooms for you to start working in. Anyone else have anything to say?" The room was silent. "Then I suggest you all get some rest. Tomorrow will be a busy day."

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Servintine was a large and empty place, secluded in the Dark Forest near Hogwarts. The only true people who knew of its being was the Headmaster of Hogwarts, the late Dumbledore. Before he had left that fateful night to go after a Horcrux he had left a message for Minerva McGonagall in case he would not return.

Minerva, it has been a reoccurring thought that you should know something as times grow darker. Hidden away in the Dark Forest, a very dangerous place but yet safe, is a large Manor in which Godric Gryffindor himself lived with his family on Summer Holiday. It is a myth that truly exists and if danger is to come upon the Order, you are to move its Headquarters there. Be safe and fight the good fight.

Minerva, a wise woman did not immediately find the note until after Dumbledore's funeral. It was hidden in the bowl of Lemon Drop candies. Minerva read it thoroughly, performing spells to make sure it was truly written by Dumbledore himself. When she was satisfied she immediately let Remus know about it.

Servintine was once a myth to everyone, but now for the Order members, it was a fact. But not to Severus…it had always been fact ever since Dumbledore had taken him there all those years ago…

"Severus, the Meadows family is dead and I feel a certain obligation to protect these children." Dumbledore said to Severus. The two of them looked into the parlor where Nicole, about 18, and her younger brother sat. "They are all that is left."

"What is it that you ask of me Sir?" Severus said looking at the children with utmost confusion.

"Take them to Muggle London and hide them away. Change their names…I don't want them found ever again by Dark wizards…" Dumbledore said so simply. If only things were that simple.

Severus looked to the girl now standing at the window and looking out. She wasn't a child as Dumbledore had called her, but knowing his age, Severus was still a 'child' in his eyes.

"I will do this…"

Severus opened his eyes and looked around the room. Still darkness. Only a little light flooded on the floor from under the door. He felt the warm cover of Nicole's cloak and buried his face in it. Her scent was sweet but dull as the dark cellar suffocated his nose of dirt and mildew. He remembered his dream. The night he met Nicole and her brother Henry…orphans.

"Who are you?" Nicole said, blatantly bothered by being handled by someone close to her age.

"Severus Snape. Dumbledore wants me to place you both in hiding." He said, trying his best to not notice her surveying him with a faint remembrance.

"You look…familiar? Have I seen you before?" She said, now getting closer to where he stood. "You left Hogwarts in my second year…yes. The Slytherin…" She said shaking her finger towards him lightly.

"Yes, your brother…is he well enough to travel?" He asked. Nicole looked to her brother who sat on the couch near the fire, his body shaking and his eyes darting over the fireplace wall, and back to Severus.

She looked to the floor and shook her head. "No. He is not. The Death Eaters….they tortured him…nearly to death. He…he isn't himself." Severus knew what had happened. He had seen it before…the Cruciatus Curse was used so heavily on the boy. He had lost his mind.

"I'm sorry." Severus mustered up and took Nicole by the shoulder and guided her to the window, far from the earshot of Henry, though he would never truly understand what it was they were saying…he was in a world of his own; paranoia had struck him so hard, that he looked to the wall like a monster and the fire as hell itself.

"London, though in a mess right now is the best place for you. You can escape into it." Severus said, knowing it wouldn't do much good to keep her in the Wizarding world. "And your brother…Derby has a good hospital for him. You can admit him…under a new name."

Nicole looked at her brother and tears formed at the corners of her eyes. She looked back to Severus and frowned. "I shouldn't leave him in a place I don't know." Severus nodded and looked at the window. The sky filled with stars, like fallen embers from the very battle that had ensued days ago…

"I understand and that is why you will find a flat in London, live there. You will be well off for the next years." He repeated as Dumbledore had said moments ago in the hallway. "You need to disappear from this world Ms. Meadows…"

"Harris." She said flatly. Severus looked at her confused. "My new last name…" Severus nodded and looked at his folded hands. "I know I can do this, Mr. Snape…" Severus looked at Nicole as if to say, Mr.? "Severus…I…I don't understand what happened."

"The Dark Lord chose your family because you parents, especially your mother, had stopped the attempt at the Ministry." Nicole didn't know what exactly had happened at the Ministry, but she had known it was a big win for the good side of the war. Severus however knew what it was that happened…and he felt more guilt knowing that he helped in a small way leading to their deaths. He had told Voldemort of the prophecy. And he remembered Lilly Potter…

His eyes watered a bit and he looked away. The feelings he had in the last few days turned his stomach and he felt sick. Nicole grabbed his arm as he closed his eyes and felt weak. He hadn't slept or eaten much in the last week and Nicole noticed the large bags under his eyes.

"Severus." She said helping him to the floor where he sat, taking large sighs of air. "Are you alright?" Severus opened his eyes and looked at her.

Here this girl was, orphaned for merely a couple of days, facing a new life that leads with challenges and she cared to ask if 'he' was alright…Severus Snape, Death Eater, killer, torturer…a man that used the same curses that had ruined Nicole's life. Unforgivable.

"I…you should get some sleep Severus. I suggest it." She said, looking at him with worry. Severus mustered enough strength to grab her hand and she grabbed back and he drifted into a black, dreamless sleep.

Nicole was all he could think about since the day she had left. The day he had felt her lips on his, her hands around his neck, her body pressed against his. The sky, dark and cloudless…the stars shining down as to spotlight her, a wonderful being who had given up so much to save her brother from a life of horror. She was braver than Severus was in his own opinion of her. The day she left was the day Severus felt the bitterness of the war deep in his throat, in his very veins of life…

"Severus?" The door had opened and candle light shot through the darkness and immediately Severus stood, his body tired but strong enough to walk to the middle of the room where he met Nicole. "Are you okay Sev-"

Severus pressed his lips to hers and let his arms pull her close. He imagines for the past 17 years her returning to him and feeling her once again. The almost exile of her from his life and weighed heavily on his life and now…all things seemed better, even as he slept in the dark cellar that had suffocated his very being. He felt his heart beat in a way that had been dormant for so long. She kissed him back and felt her hand touch his face and he melted into her hands.

He wasn't an evil man nor was he a strong man, but to her, he was a knight in shining armor. He had saved her so long ago. She knew it when after a few years of living in London she saw how the life of her brother had deeply changed. He became better, though he refused to leave the confines of the hospital. It broke her heart that he was still afraid, but he understood how their lives were much better in the Muggle world…far from the dark magic that had nearly ended their lives.

"I've missed you." Severus whispered against her lips. She felt tears stream down her cheeks and she replied "I…too." She kissed him harder; passion built up over years of loneliness with the men that entered her life as a Muggle…she was in awe of how things fell together in such times of darkness and fear.

He pulled her into a deep embrace, her face buried in his chest. She could feel his heart beating, and the butterflies fluttered in her stomach. Calm fell over the room and they felt the same dream-like state as the night they had parted all those years ago.

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"Remus…look at them." Tonks said pointing outside the boarded windows. The stars seemed brighter…bigger…like the fallen embers of a fire.

Remus came up behind Tonks and wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. "Come to bed." He kissed her neck and she turned to face him. He pulled her to the bed and sat, pulling her stomach to his face. She hadn't yet changed into her nightwear, but it didn't matter. He let his kisses flutter over her naval and up her chest, landing on the nape of her neck. She flushed and fell into his arms and felt the heat rise in the room.

Slowly she unbuttoned his shirt and traced her fingers along his scarred chest. He was very self-conscious of his scars, but she embraced them…she loved every part of him. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

"Beauty is the wisdom of women. Wisdom is the beauty of men." - Ancient Chinese proverb

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AUTHORS NOTE: Hope you really like that chapter. It was a little slow, yes, but I mean only well by it.  Please leave a review. It would mean a lot to me if you could tell what you liked, what you thought about how the plot is going and some of your ideas. They might sway me... ;)