A/N: A special thank you to my readers, for leaving such inspiring reviews. (Colleen, good luck with your move!) A flourish of the quill to Anastasia/TTFS, who patiently awaits the return of tag!fic. (We're working on a new multi-chaptered story under the combined penname "Anastadne.")
Reflections
In the garden, Tayet drew herself to her full height, unfurled her wings silently, and pounced.
"… and, of course, after much hemming and hawing, everyone finally agreed that it's the only way to accomplish it. Took the Hufflepuffs forever to decide, of course. Not one creative thinker among the lot of them," Phineas Nigellus sniffed, flicking a bit of flaked paint off of his sleeve.
Severus looked distinctly paler as he finished speaking, but nodded.
"And…" Phineas Nigellus sounded hesitant, and both Mrs. Black and Hermione looked at him expectantly. "And… they don't know everything about the two of you. Just that you're working together."
Mrs. Black looked disappointed, but Hermione closed her eyes and exhaled slowly.
Severus merely nodded and swept out of the hall.
Phineas Nigellus regarded Hermione evenly for a moment. "All of the Ravenclaws and most of the Slytherins will figure it out eventually, of course, what with that dratted songbird flitting about. You're prepared to lose everything, are you?"
Hermione glanced up and nodded.
He smirked. "Great Merlin, girl, I'm not only talking about death." He turned to Mrs. Black. "Gryffindors are so noble it makes my teeth ache."
"You're dead. Your teeth can't ache," Mrs. Black said crisply, but her heavy robes rustled as she shifted uneasily.
"That one," he cocked his head in the direction of the library, where Hermione could see Severus seated at the table, refreshing the ink in his quill. "He reminds me of someone."
"I'm sorry?" Hermione asked politely, inwardly racing through a similar set of variables to the ones Severus was, even now, sketching out on his parchment.
"Focused single-mindedly on books and magical theory and subtle plots and stratagems until he finally met his match."
"And then?" Hermione said cautiously, having had too much experience with Slytherins to expect any easy analogies.
"Then it got worse."
She waited for him to continue.
"That one's marked you as his, girl. Live or die, he's not prepared to let you go. Are you prepared to be a ghost?"
"Of course not." Hermione's skin crawled at the thought.
"Then see to it you leave no business unfinished," he concluded sharply. His gaze was pointed, but seemed to soften. "Perhaps you've not noticed, but something's changed. If you both die, he will hesitate. You, I think, will not."
Hermione shook her head emphatically.
"He would not have hesitated, before." He regarded her seriously. "It might have been better to leave him in despair."
Mrs. Black nodded, picking at a loose bead on her reticule.
"Phineas," Hermione said, with some trepidation, "what happened to that wizard you were speaking of?"
"Still rattling around Hogwarts, of course."
"And what about whoever his 'match' was?"
"She didn't stay."
"I see."
Phineas leaned toward Hermione. "No, you don't, girl, not really, although you should."
Mrs. Black looked at him sharply.
"I don't follow," Hermione said simply.
He gestured her closer to the canvas. She stepped forward, bringing her ear up to where his hand was waiting.
Into her ear, so quietly that Severus could not hear through the archway, he whispered, "Binns."
Hermione jerked away from the canvas. "That," she declared firmly, "will not happen."
Mrs. Black spoke up sharply. "And if you live? Are you prepared to lose everything if you live?"
"I'm sorry, I really don't follow," Hermione said, still trying to reconcile Severus with her image of the desiccated History of Magic teacher.
"No more should you," Mrs. Black said.
Phineas Nigellus started to argue, but Mrs. Black held up her hand and spoke on. "Does you a credit that you don't." She glanced at Phineas Nigellus. "Upstairs."
He made to protest, but she glared at him. "Death comes to everyone, but life is witches' business. Go on."
He drew his cloak about him and left her frame.
"Child, you can't know," Mrs. Black began, all acid dropped from her tone. "Wizards are… different. Should you live through this – and as you've no portrait here, I will admit to hoping that you do..."
Hermione's eyes widened.
Mrs. Black cackled. "Much more interesting with another witch about."
Hermione raised her eyebrow.
"Should you live through this, what do you imagine will happen?"
"I- I'll finish school, of course. I had thought to work for the Ministry," her eyes hardened briefly, "but perhaps I'll teach, eventually, or research… Tayet proposes so many fascinating questions…"
"And do you imagine this - you and he - can continue outside these walls?" Mrs. Black asked quietly.
Hermione's thoughts stopped dead. "Oh."
"And then there's himself," Mrs. Black said, once again rubbing the loose bead between her fingers, glancing up at Hermione. "He'd face a trial, almost certainly."
"Not 'almost,'" Severus remarked dryly from the archway. "Just 'certainly.'"
Hermione turned and her breath caught at the sight of him leaning, arms crossed casually, tall and black against the dark wood of the arch. "Do they allow portrait testimony?" she asked at once.
He nodded. "In extreme circumstances, yes."
She twisted her lips wryly. "I'd say that applies here." The dryness in her tone matched his own.
"I have no worries about a trial, Hermione," he said.
"Yes, because you don't plan to survive, do you?" Her eyes snapped darkly at him.
He had no answer for a long time, and she stood, eyes blazing at him. He returned her look coolly. "Should I live to stand trial, Hermione, I shall in all likelihood be exonerated."
"How can you be certain?"
"I can't be," he said, "but it stands to reason that if I do face a trial I will have played a rather obvious role in the downfall of the Dark Lord. Do not underestimate the gratitude of those who can't think for themselves."
Her eyes narrowed.
"My reputation shall never be unshadowed," he said quietly, "but then, it never has been."
"Well, then," Hermione stated with an air of finality, raising her chin. "It's a good thing I've no longer any ambition toward politics." She nodded at Mrs. Black, and swept past Severus into the library.
Severus stayed leaning against the archway, looking slightly puzzled.
Mrs. Black smiled with acid sweetness, gesturing with her head toward the library, where Hermione was already seating herself at the table and drawing Severus' notes toward her, "That one's marked you as hers, young man. Are you prepared to live?"
He looked at her, unblinking.
"Nice braid," she commented, and cackled again. Underneath the habitual malice in her laughter, however, Severus caught a note of satisfaction that had nothing to do with her personality or her House.
His eyes took on a speculative look.
"Severus," Hermione called quietly. "Would you mind explaining these notations? Your handwriting appears to have regressed…"
He nodded once at Mrs. Black, and joined Hermione in the library.
/x/
After an interval of a quarter of an hour, Phineas Nigellus rejoined Mrs. Black. "That was no Slytherin laugh I heard."
Mrs. Black sniffed. "Of course not. Are you daft?"
He looked at her inquiringly.
She rolled her eyes and sighed. "Wizards."
And Phineas Nigellus received no further satisfaction from her.
/x/
Minerva nodded to the elder Weasleys and Lupin as they sat in the office.
"We don't have much time before Tonks and Moody arrive with the children," Molly said, settling more comfortably in her chair. "Kingsley's coming straight from home, I think?"
Minerva nodded.
"I've told them who she's working with, Minerva," Lupin said quietly, "but not about who else knows."
Minerva looked at the Order and stood. "I am afraid that I am about to ask something very grave of all of you," she began, and Arthur reached instinctively for Molly's hand. Eyeing his movement, Minerva smiled a bit. "No, Arthur, nothing nearly that dire. Merely that all of you keep yet another secret from the rest of our members."
Glancing at Lupin, who was resting a finger against his temple, Arthur nodded. Molly and Bill echoed without hesitation.
"You know that Miss Granger's source – the source of information that enabled her to ascertain the requirements of the Horcruxes but to subvert many of them – is Severus Snape."
Everyone nodded, and it was to their credit, or perhaps to Minerva's choice regarding her audience, that everyone seemed willing to remain open-minded.
"His was the information that provided you, Molly, with the warning."
"I hadn't thought to question it, Minerva, what with… well, everything that happened that night," Molly said, eyes gleaming. "He was there… but since Remus told us, I've been replaying the scene – I can't quite see anything else in my mind, really – and what you say makes sense. He deflected my spell easily – well, of course he did – but played it to his advantage… no, to our side's advantage, using it as an excuse to angle his Shield spell to protect not only himself, but Hermione."
Bill nodded slowly, as if seeing the scene in his mind. Lupin closed his eyes briefly.
"I never would have realized it, of course, had Remus not told us this morning…" Molly sat back in her chair, looking somewhat amazed.
Arthur patted her hand with his free one, and made a sound Minerva took for agreement.
"Very well," Minerva said, distractedly, lining a quill up on her desk. "As we've very little time…"
"Good morning," Dumbledore said from the wall.
Three red heads spun around and looked up at him.
"What a pleasure to see you all again."
"You… you're awake!" Bill blurted, then blushed, then grinned.
"Yes, Mr. Weasley, I am awake indeed. And was quite pleased to see that your Arithmancy talents have not fallen off since you left Hogwarts. Rapid thinking, to discern the attack patterns. I'm sure Miss Granger was grateful for your quick insight."
Bill nodded, still grinning.
Molly's hand was at her chest, and Arthur's mouth was open slightly.
"Molly, Arthur," Dumbledore nodded at both of them, and they recovered enough to nod in return.
"All this time…?" Molly managed to speak.
Arthur and Bill both saw in her face the signs of an imminent lecture, and opened their mouths to divert it, but Dumbledore merely smiled serenely. "I shall explain much, given time, Molly, but for now it must suffice that you all understand that Severus was acting on my orders, that it was only through his intervention that I survived the Horcrux Indemnity for that last year, and that he has been assisting Miss Granger in an attempt to avert tremendous losses to the Order and to hasten the timing to our advantage."
Bill nodded instantly, and his parents followed suit. Lupin swept his hands over his eyes and said nothing, but sat straighter.
"It is crucial, absolutely crucial," Dumbledore continued placidly, "that Harry be aware neither of my alertness nor of Severus' involvement."
"Of course, sir," Bill said.
"As you wish, of course, Albus, but," Arthur stammered. "But may we ask why?"
"It's obvious, Dad." Bill turned to his parents. "If Harry knows that Professor Dumbledore is awake, the first thing he will ask will be about Professor Snape. And if he knows Professor Snape is still on our side…"
"He is no longer a professor," Lupin reminded him.
Bill shot him a glance, but continued, "… then Harry will be sure to betray him. Even if by some miracle he sets his own loathing for him aside, he'll betray him accidentally. Voldemort hasn't survived this long by being blind."
"No, of course not, son," Arthur said, a note of determination entering his voice. "He's done so by destroying his own soul. That cannot be allowed. It cannot." Turning to Dumbledore's portrait, he asked, "On that score, Albus - " he could not repress a smile at the sheer pleasure of conversing with him again " - what are we to do about the remaining Horcruxes?"
Lupin shifted in his chair and glanced at Minerva.
"We shall discuss that when the others arrive, I think," she said. She had been observing the Weasleys and was well-gratified to see the change in their demeanor. Yesterday, before they knew about Severus' continued allegiance, they had seemed only grimly determined. Now, with Dumbledore awake and speaking, they appeared almost hopeful.
"Before they do," Dumbledore cautioned, "I must ask you to keep the information regarding Severus' involvement a secret not only from Harry, but from Alastor, at well." He looked at Remus. "You may, if you wish, tell Nymphadora after the meeting; Minerva, if you would be so good as to inform Kingsley at the same time?"
She nodded.
"Why Mad-Eye?" Arthur asked.
"Because it is essential that Severus retain at least one enemy on our side, Arthur. Someone who is not Harry."
There was a moment of silence, which was broken by Bill's slow, appreciative whistle. Damn, the man is subtle. His grin broadened. If Dumbledore thought they had enough of a chance to play the equation that far ahead, then Bill felt very optimistic indeed.
/x/
Hermione looked from the parchment to Severus and exhaled slowly. "Do you think Remus' plan will work?"
"It is likely to circumvent the Indemnity required by Nagini." he said.
Her eyes narrowed at his careful wording. "There's more."
He set down his quill and rubbed his eyes. "Yes."
She didn't move.
He leaned his forehead on his fist. His knuckles were white.
"What?"
Raising his face to press his fist to his lips, his eyes moving rapidly, calculating, assessing, recalculating, he said nothing.
Hermione waited.
Finally, he sat straighter. For a moment she was hopeful, but when he closed his eyes and raised his fingers to his temples, her heart gave a heavy beat and seemed ready to choke her.
"What, Severus, what is-" she began, but stopped when she saw the look on his face.
"The timing, Hermione. It's going to wreak havoc with the timing." His voice was almost inaudible.
"But the timing…" her voice faltered, and she looked at him. "That's what's supposed to keep us alive long enough to give Harry… "
It was the first real fear he had seen on her face since he had closed his hand around her throat some nights before. He closed his eyes.
"Can you still control the timing?" she whispered, gesturing to the parchment. "With such a variable as that… ?"
She watched him carefully.
He was rapidly assessing his own abilities against a set of variables that were now exponentially more complicated as they were no longer merely chaotic, but random. He knew that they would face better odds by sacrificing Hagrid. She knew it too, on some level, but… He forced his eyes to open, to still, to calm, forced his body to relax as though he'd found a possible solution.
"Can you?" she whispered again, more hopefully.
He wanted to lie to her. It was on his lips.
But instead he found himself reaching for her, drawing her to him, pressing his lips to hers before the lie could escape them. "No. No, I can't. Not with any certainty."
She flinched as though she'd been struck. "Okay," she said. Breathe, Granger. Just breathe. It was her usual mantra when faced with rising panic. Another part of her mind added, While you still can. "Oh, shut it!" she snapped, and Severus drew back, startled. "Oh, not you; it's my mind." She raked her fingers into her hair. Logic. Logic and reason. When in doubt, trust Dumbledore.
"Dumbledore must have agreed, yes?"
"Phineas!" Severus called, hastening into the hall. "What did Albus say to Lupin's idea?"
Phineas regarded him coolly. "Took you long enough." He turned to Mrs. Black. "Pay up."
Without fanfare, Severus raised his wand to the canvas.
Mrs. Black tossed two Sickles at Phineas Nigellus and vacated the frame.
"What did he say, Phineas?"
Phineas looked at him, unflinching. "That he thought it was a daft idea, of course."
Hermione, who had followed hard on Severus' heels, stepped back. "What?"
Phineas Nigellus held up his hand. "Just daft enough to work."
Hermione turned to Severus. "I hate this. I really hate this." She turned back to Phineas Nigellus. "And I think I hate you, too."
Severus nodded grimly, his wand at Phineas Nigellus' throat.
"Oh, put that away," she snapped. Mrs. Black!" she called up the stairs. "It's safe to come back now." Hermione went into the kitchen.
Mrs. Black reappeared in time to see Severus and Phineas Nigellus blink at each other for a moment before Severus lowered his wand. She cackled.
Severus followed Hermione.
She was standing with her hand on the Floo powder container, her back to him, looking at the hearth. "I can advise them to ignore Remus' solution," she said slowly. "To sacrifice Hagrid for the…" She closed her eyes. "… for the larger purpose."
"You could," he agreed, his voice giving no hint as to his preference.
"They'd never believe that was my advice."
"No."
"They'd assume it came from you."
"Indeed."
"Hagrid would insist that we ignore Remus' solution, if he knew."
"He would."
She was silent for a moment, not turning around. Then – "Our chances are worse, with Remus' plan."
Not mine, Hermione. Just yours. Aloud, he said, "Yes." It was truthful enough.
"And Harry's?"
"It is difficult to say."
"And if we live, I'll always wonder if it was because - "
He hesitated, then continued in the same toneless voice, "This is war, Hermione. Some of them would understand that."
"Some, but not all."
"Not all," he agreed.
"Hagrid would."
Tayet flew in through the window and landed on the table. "Squeep?" she said softly.
They turned to look at her, the tear on Severus' braid catching a stray ray of light, glinting into Hermione's eyes.
She shut them reflexively, and said, "I'll ask Dumbledore - "
"You won't have a chance before the meeting, Hermione."
"Before the next one, then?"
He said nothing, glancing at the mist beyond the garden wall. He could see forms within it, taking shape. "There won't be a next meeting, Hermione."
"Severus," she turned to him, only to find herself in his arms, his hands on her face, smoothing her hair away from her forehead.
"Hermione, hear me. I will do everything in my power within whatever framework the Order decides. It has always been thus. But if there is a way…"
She clutched his robes in her fists.
"If there is a way, I will find it."
"But - "
"And if there isn't, we shall make one." He kissed her softly, tipping her chin up with his finger.
"After all," he said.
She opened her eyes to find him gazing at her calmly.
He traced her eyebrow with a gentle finger. "We have before."
She looked up at him and nodded, turning to reach for the Floo powder. "What shall I tell them?"
"Tell Minerva that I shall probably be called to make a report to the Dark Lord late tonight, or perhaps early tomorrow morning, and that she should assemble the Order. If Nagini is nearby, I will call you to join me. You will Apparate there separately, after providing Minerva with the location."
"And then?"
"And then it ends. One way or another."
She froze, then nodded.
A moment later, he stood alone in the kitchen, his head bowed, his hand coming up to rest on the mantel. He was turning the two-way mirror slowly in his fingers.
"Whirp?" Tayet watched the shiny thing in his hand catch a flash of sunlight, and disappear into shadow, and flash again. "Whirp?" She craned her neck to follow the bits of light it reflected around the kitchen.
Then the light went away. No more flashes, although he kept turning it.
Tayet sang a soft, worried note as the mist outside thinned, condensing into shapes. Already they had substance enough to cast hungry shadows over the garden wall.
