28 June 1999
Severus returned from Malfoy Manor and snuck back into Hogwarts. As soon as he felt the burning pain in his arm, he knew that Hermione and Draco had successfully made it through the cabinet and contacted the Dark Lord. Even though he was sure he would be told to return to the castle, he answered it without hesitation. It was always better to go and be told to leave than to assume you knew what the Dark Lord wanted. And now was not the time to be making small mistakes such as not answering a summons.
He was back in Dumbeldore's office but now he was overseeing the evacuation of Phoenix members from Hogwarts to Malfoy Manor. It had been Dobby who had given them the idea to transport their members via house-elf magic from their homes to the castle. And now they were using that same magic to take people from the Headmaster's office and into Draco's bedroom at the manor.
The wards on the rooms in the family wing of the manor were strong, but not impossible to get around if you knew how. They blocked out all ways of entry except house-elf magic — since their elves needed the ability to get to their masters as soon as they were called. They exploited the small little loophole and after Miss Lovegood volunteered to test the theory they had created their battle plan.
With house-elves in mind, Narcissa had tasked Dobby, Willow, and Kreacher with ferrying the members of Phoenix Reborn from Scotland to Wiltshire. Potter had been about to ask his elf to help when Hermione told him that it should be Narcissa who asked. Evidently, she was right because as soon as Narcissa asked, the little beast had seemed to swell with pride at being asked to help the Noble House of Black. It didn't matter that the elf belonged to Harry, he saw anyone with Black blood as someone to take orders from. Narcissa had been explicit — under threat of clothing — that Kreacher not take orders from any other Black family members but her or Draco, including Bellatrix. She had tried to include Andromeda and Tonks in the order, but Kreacher had refused, crying that the eldest Black sister had been disowned. Narcissa had not pressed the point.
Once everyone had been moved to Draco's room, Narcissa would leave them and join the Death Eaters. She was never required to be there for meetings but for an event as monumental as Dumbledore's death, where her son was the one who killed him, it would be suspicious if she wasn't.
They had drawn maps of the hallways of the manor and everyone had memorised them so they knew they knew how to get to each of the three side entrances into the ballroom. The only people who would come through the main entrance would be Hermione, Draco, Severus, and the people who were staying behind at Hogwarts to fight. His stomach was in knots about how it would all turn out, but he had faith in the people they had gathered on their side and just had to hope it would be enough.
"I'm going now or I'm going later, mum," Ginny Weasley said loudly, standing toe to toe with her mother and pulling Severus from his thoughts.
Molly was red in the face and her lips were white from being pressed together. Severus was sure that people would think the Weasley matriarch was being stubborn or controlling, but Severus could feel the anxiety rolling off her as she yelled at Ginny. "You're a child and you're not going. Now or then."
"Mum, there is no point in stopping her," Charlie Weasley said, coming up to lay his hand on his mother's arm. "Her family is fighting, her friends are fighting, and her boyfriend is fighting. Would you have stayed behind if your mum asked you to?"
"No."
Molly seemed to deflate but the anxiety stayed as Ginny smiled in triumph before being whisked away by Willow. Dobby appeared next to Molly and held out his hand to take her to the manor. Charlie hugged her and promised he'd see her there as soon as they had taken care of the Death Eaters that entered the castle.
Most people had already gone on to the manor, but some of their strongest fighters, like Bill, Fleur, Charlie, Remus, Tonks, and Kingsley were staying behind with Minerva and Filius to fight. They weren't sure how many Death Eaters would be coming yet, but Lucius or Narcissa would notify him via their enchanted Sickles as soon as they knew. They only had a few minutes from when the Death Eaters left the manor until they would be coming out of the Room of Requirement. The elves could always bring more back, but with Hermione, Draco, and Potter joining the fighting they should have more than enough people.
"We should get in position," Severus said, addressing the remaining fighters.
He led the way out of the Headmaster's office and towards the main staircase. They had just stepped on one when it began to move towards a platform that would give them a more direct route to the Astronomy Tower. Severus placed his hand on the railing, sending an almost silent thank you to the castle.
Charlie moved to stand next to him. "May I ask you a few questions, sir?"
"If you must." It wasn't that he didn't like Charlie, Severus was just worried about Hermione and was having a hard time regulating his emotions.
"As friendly as ever I see. It's just that my brother, Ron, said stunner and Incarcerous spells only? That seems a… little tame for fighting Death Eaters."
"I personally wouldn't care if you all Avada'd them on the spot but I think your mother and the Ministry might have a problem with that. I will say that as long your wand only shows spells that are used in self-defence then the Ministry won't hold it against you."
"If we win, that is?"
"If we don't win, it doesn't matter what spells you use. We'll all be tortured, killed, or tortured and then killed."
They walked up a few flights of stairs in silence until Charlie spoke again, his voice low so it wouldn't travel to the others walking behind them. "So, you and Hermione?"
"What?" Severus hissed. Charlie had only been around them for a few moments and Severus and Hermione had hardly interacted during that time.
"I've been around enough dragons to tell when one is enamoured with another one and you both get that same look in your eyes."
"We're not dragons, Mr Weasley."
"No, you're not," he said with a laugh. "But it's the same look Fleur gives Bill, Remus gives Tonks. I'm not judging. I just wanted to wish you well."
He gave Charlie a hard look as they waited for another staircase to move and settle into the new platform. He cleared his throat, unsure how to respond. "Thank you. Make sure you tell your mother you approve when she inevitably finds out and then tries to castrate me."
"She might throw a fit for a day or two, but then she'll come around and try to feed you. I don't know Hermione well, but she seems to have a good head on her shoulders. If she likes you and you treat her well, that's all that matters to me. Plus, not many people will understand what it's like to be on both sides of the war like you two do."
Before Severus could answer him, his Sickle began to heat up and he pulled it from his pocket. He confirmed the number then spoke louder so everyone could hear him as they walked up the final flight of stairs.
"They are bringing seven people with them," Severus told them. "Miss Granger said she would need to inform the Dark Lord that there are Order members on patrol so I am unsure how many will stay with her and Draco and how many will go searching for us. It is likely that the Dark Lord has ordered Bellatrix to stay by Draco's side to make sure the task is completed."
Bill nodded. "We'll wait until we see Hermione and Draco go up the staircase to the tower before we attack. Just in case someone is listening and returns to the manor. Once the fighting starts, I'll call for someone to go and find you. We'll let you pass but incapacitate the others."
They entered the hallway that led to the Astronomy Tower and moved into an empty classroom halfway down the corridor. They all cast Disillusionment charms on themselves and Severus added a Muffliato to the doorway in case one of the Death Eaters was listening for them.
It felt like an hour passed before he heard distant footsteps coming towards them but according to his watch less than ten minutes had transpired. The sound of high heels clacking on the stone floors grew louder and he knew it was Hermione. He wanted to rush out and make sure she wasn't harmed but he stayed silent. They watched as Draco, Hermione, and Rabastan passed them and he wondered if he was the only one struggling with the need to run out and protect his love and his godson. He was surprised he didn't see Bellatrix in the group but wondered if she was there but outside of his view from the door.
"Someone is here; I can smell them," came the raspy voice of Fenrir Greyback and Severus' stomach clenched. That wasn't good news. He was more beast than human and Severus hadn't counted on the Dark Lord sending him since he wasn't a Marked Death Eater, something that bothered the wolf to no end. But the nature of a werewolf was unstable — that's what allowed their body to shift from man to wolf and back — and because of that their cores couldn't sustain the Mark. Fenrir sniffed loudly. "Lupin, is that you? Come out and play with your sire."
"Greyback!" Rabastan snapped. "Be quiet before you wake the whole castle. Sniff out your little wolf friend and put him down. We'll be up in the Tower. Make sure no one joins us."
Severus heard the heeled feet walk towards the end of the corridor then he heard Hermione cast a spell that he recognised from Lucius. It was the same one that was on the manor gates and would block entry for anyone that didn't bear a Dark Mark on their arm. That had to mean they were heading up the stairs. Keeping his Disillusionment Charm on, he moved until he bumped into someone.
He pressed his lips to their ear and whispered as quietly as he could. "Now."
He heard his whisper repeated a few times and then as one the group dropped their charms and came into view. Bill and Charlie cast shield charms in front of them that were so powerful it blew their hair back.
"There they are!" Yaxley yelled.
The group of Phoenix fighters moved as one out of the door, Bill and Charlie keeping them shielded as the rest of them began to fire hexes and jinx at the Death Eaters.
"Filius! Filius! There are too many of them! Go get Severus!" McGonagall yelled. The fear in her voice was so real that Severus almost believed it for a half of a second until he remembered that there were only six Death Eaters in the hallway and eight Phoenix members.
Flashes of light and bangs filled the corridor as he cast the strongest Protego he knew over himself and snuck out of the classroom and down the hall. When he turned the corner, Filius was casting charms over the entrance.
"To keep the noise from waking up the students," he explained.
Turning, Severus looked down the hallway. Gibbon was already on the ground and looked dead, Charlie stepping over his body to join Tonks and Remus. They were fighting Greyback and even though it was three on one, the wolf was holding his own and Severus wondered if what he'd done that allowed the curses to bounce off his skin. The Carrow twins — never able to be more than a few feet from each other — were attacking Minerva but she was holding her own even though her hair had fallen from its tight bun. Kingsley was duelling with Yaxley and he couldn't tell who was winning.
Rowle was attacking Bill and Fleur and he watched in awe as the blonde — who everyone underestimated because of her beauty — placed a well-timed curse that had him howling in pain and rolling on the floor. He'd always been curious if the witch was part Veela with her silvery-gold hair but he no longer had to wonder. Fleur turned towards Greyback and, pulling her arm back like she was a cricket bowler, she threw a handful of Veela fire at the werewolf, catching him in the neck and shoulder.
He watched in morbid fascination as Greyback began to scream and dropped to the floor before pulling his eyes away. The wolf could burn for all he cared; he had to get to the top of the tower. Dropping his shields and Disillusionment charms, he began to run down the corridor and into the fighting. Part of him watched as Remus cast what looked like a slicing spell on the still screaming wolf but he couldn't slow down to check, he had to keep his cover.
"Severus!" Bill cried out. "Three Death Eaters are on the tower! We'll keep fighting down here!"
He outwardly ignored the eldest Weasley as he ran towards the staircase. With the wolf most likely dying and Filius joining the fight, the Phoenixes would have the rest of the Death Eaters taken care of within minutes. He doubted he, Hermione, Harry, or Draco would need to help them at all when they returned.
He didn't see Bellatrix as he made his way towards the end of the corridor but he tried to push it from his mind. They had planned a lot of the night around killing Bellatrix on the tower but they would have to make do. She was an excellent duelist and he wasn't looking forward to her being alive at the manor when they returned. Her not being here was sure to mean more Phoenixes would die before they could take her out.
Shoving all thoughts of Bellatrix from his mind, he easily passed through the spell Hermione had added to the staircase and ran towards the top. As he made his way further up the spiralling staircase the light of the torches seemed to change from their standard yellow to green. He stepped out onto the rampart and took in the scene before him lit by the Dark Mark hanging in the sky.
The plan had always been to have the Dark Mark over the Astronomy Tower but the sight of it hovering over his beloved castle made his chest ache. This was supposed to be a place of learning and growing but tonight it would be a place of death.
Draco had Dumbledore's wand at his feet and his own wand raised at the defenceless man but he wasn't making any moves to kill him. There was only one broom leaning against the parapet but Severus knew Potter was there somewhere under his cloak. Rabastan, like Draco, had removed his mask and was standing behind Hermione. His hands roaming his witch's body, pinching her nipples and whispering lewd things into her ear. Severus fought back the rage at the liberties Lestrange was taking. He couldn't see Hermione's whole face because of her mask, but he could tell from her eyes that she was hating every touch.
"Look who's here, little slut," Rabastan grunted. "Little Sevvy has finally joined us. Should I tell him?"
He moved to stand next to his godson and clapped him on the shoulder. "Rabastan! Stop playing with your toys. Draco, do it!" Severus commanded.
"But I have a surprise for you and old Dumbley here. Take off your mask, slut."
"You can show me later. Draco, finish your task or you know what will happen."
Dumbledore was watching the exchange with a slightly amused expression but Severus could tell he was in a lot of pain and just wanted it to end. If he didn't need Rabastan for this next part he would kill him on the spot then give the Headmaster a potion that would painlessly allow him to drift off to sleep, never to awaken again.
But that wasn't what Dumbledore wanted. The fucking Gryffindor wanted his death to be as dramatic as his over-the-top wardrobe. Severus may have love for the Headmaster, Minerva, Hermione, and even Lily Potter, but he could do without the flamboyant nature of the House of Lions.
Hermione reached up and took her mask off. Severus allowed his face to show a false flicker of shock before he schooled it again.
"It matters not that Miss Granger is one of us," he snapped. "Draco, stop stalling or step aside."
Rabastan barked out a laugh that grated on his nerves. "It doesn't bother you that she never told you she was a Death Eater, Sevvy? Did you know that she only fucked you because Bellatrix told her to?" His hands began to roam over Hermione again, his tongue licking her neck as he began to work his fingers into her trousers. "She is mine now."
"Severus…" Dumbledore pleaded.
Severus looked at Rabastan who was still trying to touch Hermione and he snapped. He took all the rage and hatred for the asshole in front of him and gathered it in a ball in his mind. This man and his family were the ones that had violated not only Hermione but Draco as well. Channelling all that anger, he raised the wand in his hand.
"Avada Kadavra!"
The sound of death rushing towards them filled the night as the green light left his wand and hit his target square in the chest. The briefest look of shock crossed Rabastan's face.
Dumbledore fell to the ground, dead.
Hermione and Draco led the Death Eaters from the Room of Requirement and across the seventh floor to the corridor that led to the Astronomy Tower. She tried to not scan each doorway, alcove, and side hallway to see if she could spot Severus and the other Phoenixes but she couldn't help herself. She wasn't sure who all had stayed behind and after finding out that Greyback was coming with them, she was nervous.
She had heard him bragging as they were walking to the gates of Malfoy Manor that he had done a ritual with his pack on Litha and she didn't want to know what that entailed. She could almost guarantee it was nothing like the sensual, emotional ritual she and Severus had done with Lucius and Narcissa.
They were almost to the stairs that led to the top of the Astronomy Tower when Greyback sniffed loudly.
"Someone is here; I can smell them," he said.
When he mentioned Remus' name her heart dropped. She didn't care if she had to blow her cover to save her ex-professor and her friend. She was not letting that monster anywhere near him. Remus might be a werewolf, but he was nothing like Greyback.
Rabastan told the wolf to be quiet and it took all of her strength but Hermione walked away from her friends and towards the stairs. As soon as they started to walk up the staircase she stopped and pulled out her wand. She cast the spell Lucius had taught her that would block anyone without the Dark Mark from passing. It wasn't that she didn't want the Phoenixes with her but she knew that if any of them but Severus made it to the top they would try and stop them.
She knew first hand that it was one thing to know someone is going to die but it is another to actually stand there and let it happen. Or do it yourself if you have to. And there was no way Remus would be able to stand it. Dumbledore had been the first person to ever take a chance on the werewolf and it was because of the Headmaster that he had as good of a life as he did. As strong of a fighter as Remus was, there was no way he would be able to take down the first person to believe in him.
As soon as they walked out onto the dark ramparts Rabastan lifted his wand in the air and cast the Dark Mark into the sky. His spell was powerful and Hermione felt the familiar rush of Dark Magic over her skin but it didn't affect her as it normally did. She didn't feel the heat of lust that normally followed or the desire to mount the nearest cock, hand, or face. Watching Draco be tortured had shifted something within her. Her Occlumency shields felt stronger than ever and she didn't think anyone but Severus would be able to get through them.
"How are you holding up?" Hermione asked Draco. He'd shed his mask as soon as they walked into the fresh evening air. Even though he'd taken the potion from his father he still looked a little weak from his time under the Dark Lord's wand. The green light of the Morsmordre didn't help.
Rabastan laughed at her question and pulled his own mask off. "Don't baby him, Hermione. His mother does enough of that. If Draco can't handle a little pain now and then, then he isn't a real man."
"Of course," Hermione replied, biting back the retort she wanted to say. Real men felt pain, and joy, and sorrow, and love, and every single emotion that women felt. Not instantly recovering from a bout of Crucio didn't make Draco any less of a man in her eyes. "I just wanted to make sure it wouldn't interfere with his duty tonight. I have grown fond of his father's cock and would be put out if I couldn't play with it anymore."
"Of course you would. But there are others in better favour with our Lord that would be more than happy to fuck your sweet little cunt. Myself included. I can give you a preview if you want."
Sounds started to drift up from the hallway below and Hermione knew the fighting had started. She wanted to turn her wand on Rabastan but knew she couldn't. Not yet.
She tried to keep her voice light and flirty as she answered him. "I might just take you up on that after Draco kills the Headmaster."
"I don't think you'll have long to wait."
Rabastan pointed to the gates of the school and Hermione saw who she knew to be Dumbledore flying towards them. She thought she saw something in the air next to him and guessed it was one of Harry's shoes that had slipped out from under his cloak. Whilst she was distracted, Rabastan pulled her back flush against his chest and began to fondle her.
Her skin crawled as he tweaked her nipples and ground his hard cock against her arse but she didn't pull away. She leaned back slightly and let out a breathy moan that sounded fake to her. Draco looked at her and cocked an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. Rabastan didn't seem to notice though and continued to touch her as Dumbledore flew closer.
"You like that, don't you, you little slut? I can't wait to fuck you tonight," he growled in her ear.
The shiver that ran through her body was involuntary and she hoped he took it as a sign of her desire, not her repulsion. She only had to keep the ruse up for a few more minutes and then she could take care of the sick bastard behind her. Besides the fact that he hadn't even had the decency to ask her if he could touch her, he was still under the impression that she was under his sister-in-law's control.
She changed her focus from all the ways she could castrate Rabastan to Dumbledore as he flew over the parapet and landed. She saw the dirt move where Harry landed beside him and was glad he was there even if she couldn't see him. Draco didn't hesitate and lifted his wand, disarming the Headmaster before he could get his feet fully settled. The wand flew into the air and landed at Draco's feet but he didn't bend to pick it up.
"Mr Malfoy, Draco. You don't have to do this," Dumbledore said, his weak voice carrying in the silent night.
Draco shook his head and scoffed. "You know what's going to happen, old man. And you know why I'm doing this."
"I could have kept you and your parents safe."
"Don't worry, sir. They'll be safe by the end of the night."
Rabastan choked out a laugh and pulled Hermione even closer to his body, his hands never stopping their exploration. "Only if you do your job. Go on now, Draco."
There were footsteps on the stairs and they turned as Severus walked out onto the ramparts. Hermione's entire body wanted to sag with relief that he was there and this part of the night was almost over. She wasn't sure how much longer she would stand to have the man behind her touching her before she snapped and punched him in the dick.
She listened as Rabastan goaded Severus and knew her wizard was as close to losing control as she was. She took off her mask, not because Rabastan had asked but because the time had finally come for the first part of the night to be over. She wanted Severus to be able to see her, see how much she loved him as he had to do the one thing he didn't want to do.
He had confessed to her that, whilst he might seem at ease with Dumbledore's request, he didn't want to kill him. He had begged the Headmaster more than once in the last few months to please change his mind and allow Severus to help him pass painlessly in his sleep.
"Severus…"
Hermione's heart broke as Dumbledore pleaded for Severus to kill him, to end the pain. Severus looked from the old man to her. She saw his eyes take in the lewd way Rabastan was touching her and she saw the moment he could no longer stand it in his eyes. She was confused when he didn't pull his own wand from his pocket but yanked Draco's from where his godson's hand was hanging, limply at his side.
His eyes never left where Rabastan was touching her when he lifted the borrowed wand and pointed it at Dumbledore.
"Avada Kadavra!"
The headmaster fell to the ground and Hermione knew he was dead, had felt the rush of magic as Severus' spell struck him in the chest. Rabastan went still behind her before stepping back and letting out a whoop of delight.
"I didn't know you had it in you, Severus!" Rabastan yelled.
She didn't see him pull up his sleeve or press his wand to his Dark Mark; her eyes were only for Severus. But she felt it as the Dark Lord sent a powerful summons through each of their Marks. He had been notified and it was time to leave the castle and finish the Death Eaters at Malfoy Manor.
Rabastan pulled her towards him, spinning her around and pressing his lips to hers. She didn't think. Didn't hesitate. Pulling his wand out of his grip, she pressed it into his chest.
"Avada Kadavra!" she yelled and pushed his dead body from her as the life left him and he began to collapse.
Severus was on her in a second, pulling her away from where Rabastan was laying, his body twisted in an unnatural way, his lifeless eyes reflecting the Dark Mark still hanging in the sky.
"What the fuck, Hermione?" Harry yelled, pulling the Invisibility Cloak off of himself and shoving it in his pocket. "I thought we were just going to stun them."
"The time for stunning is over, Harry. I refuse to allow him to walk this earth for another moment. And if you knew a quarter of the things I did about that pig, you would have done the same thing." Hermione refused to feel an ounce of remorse for what she'd done.
"It's not that. If I had known we were going to kill him, I would have done it earlier. It took every bit of control I had not to hex his balls off when he was touching you. Are you okay?"
Harry came to stand by her and pulled her from Severus to give her a hug. "I'm fine, Harry. He's not the first person I've killed and he won't be the last tonight. After this is over, I'm sure I'll need years of therapy. But for now, we have a job to do."
Reaching down, she pulled a lock of hair from Rabastan's head, took his mask, then took out her wand, removing all evidence from the scene. She placed Rabastan's wand by his hand. It would look like he had taken his own life if the Auror's cared to look. Summoning Harry's broom, she put it in her beaded bag and checked to make sure there was nothing else there that would give them away.
She wanted to cover Dumbledore with a white cloth, give him the respect she felt she deserved but she knew she couldn't. Professor Sprout, whilst beyond talented with plants couldn't duel to save her life, had volunteered to stay behind from Malfoy Manor and take care of Dumbledore's body and would come and collect it later in the night.
Keeping her mask off, she led the way down the stairs and into the mostly quiet corridor. The fighting had stopped sometime before and she quickly scanned the faces of everyone there to make sure no one was injured.
McGonagall's hair had come loose and they all looked a little windswept, but beyond that, they all looked healthy. The Death Eaters were all dead and their bodies respectfully laid out in a classroom. It was surreal to see people she had just talked to less than an hour before no longer living, but she pushed the thought from her head. A lot more people would die tonight if they weren't focused.
Bill was the first to approach her as she entered the classroom. He took her in his arms for a moment. She felt Fleur surround her and she let a single tear fall in memory of Dumbledore before straightening up.
"Is he… is it done?" Remus asked his eyes on Severus.
He nodded. "Albus is gone. Lestrange is also dead."
The group nodded but no one asked for any details. Severus pulled several phials of Polyjuice Potion from his pocket. "These are a special brew and will only last half an hour. You'll want to take them now so they can start to wear off once the fighting begins. You don't want to be killed by a Phoenix because you look like a Death Eater. I know you'll be wearing masks when we get there, but they are designed to only fit the person who owns it."
"What about Greyback?" Hermione asked. "Polyjuice is only for humans and I'm not sure if he's fully human right now."
"What do you mean?" Remus looked at her, confused.
"He said he did a Litha ritual and it changed him. He wasn't specific, just said it was wolf magic."
"A forced partial transformation," Remus whispered.
Tonks spoke up, "I can morph into him. As long as I stay quiet, no one will know. And don't complain, Remus. I'm doing it whether you like it or not."
Remus nodded and Charlie made a coughing noise that sounded a lot like 'good dog' that made Hermione smile and Tonks laugh out loud.
Severus spoke, sobering them. "Everybody take their Death Eater robes. Just make sure you transfigure your clothing to be black and no one will notice. I'll inform the Dark Lord that Gibbon did not make it. Minerva, call Dobby. You and Harry get to the manor and inform the others we are coming and to get into position. We'll be there in less than ten minutes."
Minerva nodded and they watched as Dobby appeared then whisked Harry, Flitwick, and McGonagall away. All around her, her friends were groaning in pain as their bodies changed into exact copies of the dead Death Eaters around her.
Bill and Fleur seemed to shrink and turn grotesque as they changed into the Carrow twins. Charlie grew taller and lanky as he became Rabastan. Kingsley didn't change much as he took Yaxley's large form but Remus seemed to grow outward as Rowle's body replaced his own. She looked at Tonks who was staring at Greyback until she was an exact copy of him, clothes and all.
Hermione reached out and handed Charlie Rabastan's mask. He placed it on his face and if she didn't know it was her friend, she could have no clue that it wasn't the man who had been fondling her just minutes before.
"We need to go," Severus said. "We're already going to have to lie and say there were more Order members than we thought there would be and that Gibbon is dead. I will do all the speaking unless he asks you a direct question."
Each step felt like a hundred as Hermione followed the group to the Room of Requirement. Severus was talking to Charlie, telling him exactly what happened when Rabastan was with them on the tower. She noticed he left out the part about her being the one to kill the Death Eater but she thought that might be for the best. Draco was filling the rest in about any specific ways to stand or react when they approached the Dark Lord. She knew she should be helping, but her stomach was in knots and she couldn't get the words to leave her mouth. The first part of the night had gone as well as expected but the hard part was yet to come.