Author's Note: Artwork for chapter 88 by me can be found here (remove spaces): http: / sindie11 . deviantart . com / art / Oliver-Sleeps-Severus-Watches-87385162
Chapter Eighty-Nine
For the next couple of weeks, life seemed to return to normal. There were no further missions for Severus and Lily to go on, and the next Order meeting wasn't scheduled for another week, leaving things mysteriously quiet on the war front. While Severus wasn't fooled and would keep alert for any sign of the Death Eaters on the move, he didn't allow those thoughts to consume his day-to-day life.
Lily wasn't thinking nearly as much about the war, but that was due to lack of experience. Instead, exactly a fortnight after the conflict in Gloucester, Ross and Violet Evans adopted Oliver as their son. Despite the fact that Lily's parents were Muggles, because they had raised a daughter who was a witch, the Ministry was willing to allow the adoption. Oliver had already taken well to Lily, and knowing he would see her often, the boy was happier than he had been in days.
The Order meeting in early November came and went. Few things had changed. People were still on the same assignments they had been given earlier that year, and all the while, Severus felt himself growing more impatient by the day. He knew what could (and probably would) happen to Edgar Bones and his entire family in early December. He had been one of the Death Eaters who had witnessed the slaughter of the Boneses last time.
Knowing he couldn't sit back and risk that happening again, Severus knew he had to be proactive. Whenever he would discuss the possibility with Lily about the brutal attack on the Bones family, Lily would suggest Severus go to Dumbledore for help.
But that would involve telling the headmaster the truth.
And Severus definitely didn't want to do that.
Telling Dumbledore the truth would mean putting himself at the old man's disposal again, and Severus loathed the thought alone of such a thing.
As decorations went up and the weather grew colder, Severus decided he would have to approach Edgar himself. He would have to spin a convincing story and hope that the Auror had enough sense to listen.
Watching Lily play with Oliver in the sitting room at her parents' house that Sunday afternoon in late November, Severus's thoughts were elsewhere. Oliver and Lily had developed a strong bond over the course of the past several weeks, but Severus had held back, uncomfortable being around a child too much, especially a child who had probably been killed last time.
A shudder went through Severus at that thought. To see Oliver happy and playful was unnerving. Had Edgar Bones and the Longbottoms failed to retrieve the child the first time, if they had, in fact, even gone on the same mission in Gloucester before? Severus didn't recall ever teaching a student at Hogwarts named Oliver Rochester... now Oliver Evans.
Lily was in the midst of laughing now, and she looked up at Severus, catching his eye and discontent expression.
"Why don't you come join us, Sev?" Lily queried, sobering.
Oliver, oblivious to the interaction between the adults, attacked Lily's side with his hands, intent on tickling her. She laughed, hugging the boy to her.
"I'm fine here," Severus replied.
"But you're not even watching what's on the telly," Lily persisted. "It won't hurt anything, Sev. You look like you could use a good laugh."
"Lily-" he started to protest, his voice wary and pained.
"Just a moment, Oliver," Lily told the boy, who reluctantly stepped aside, turning his attention to the television.
Approaching Severus, Lily took a seat next to him on the sofa. He had been leaning forward in his concentration, and a few strands of hair had fallen into his face. Lily brushed these aside, pushing them behind his ears.
"I know you're worried about... you know what," Lily whispered very softly, her lips incredibly close to his skin, "but even you can lighten up for a little while and live life."
Her words were teasing. The tingle of her breath of his skin was driving him crazy, and with a groan, Severus's previous thoughts whirled. His mind fogged, and in his frustration, he sighed. With Lily around, although a pleasant distraction, he found it difficult to keep his mind as sharp as he used to.
"All right," Severus relented, "but just for this afternoon. Tonight, we need to talk."
"Agreed, and fair enough," Lily conceded.
She pulled him by the air to the floor, beckoning for Oliver to join them.
Oliver gave Severus a quizzical look, asking, "Why are you always frowning?"
"I'm not-" Severus started to say, but seeing Lily's stern expression, he amended, "I'm not frowning now. See?" He forced a smile, which didn't seem to convince Oliver.
Oliver ignored Severus and went for Lily again, and Severus sighed, realizing he was a little jealous for Lily's attention. He had never shared her with a child before.
The rest of the afternoon went fairly well. After another round of tickling, Lily suggested they head into the kitchen for a snack. Violet had just finished baking, and she placed a plate full of biscuits in front of Oliver, who graciously took one, remarking that his grandmother had baked often.
Lily's parents set up a game of Monopoly on the table in the sitting room, and Severus joined in, although his heart wasn't in it, and despite his attempt to "live a little," his mind kept going to the conversation he would need to have with Lily that evening... and eventually with Edgar.
After dinner, Severus and Lily returned home. Dropping onto the couch, he realized how exhausted he was.
"Today was fun," Lily remarked, joining him. "Even you have to admit that, Severus."
"It was... not bad," Severus conceded, "but how can you spend so much time playing with that boy?"
"His name is Oliver, Severus." Lily scowled. "You really don't like kids that much, do you?"
"I didn't care much for the dunderheads I had to teach all those years, but I never wanted to teach in the first place. That isn't to say I don't want a child of my own... one day, but that's something that will take time. Oliver is a good enough kid, I suppose."
"It's all right," Lily said. "I know now that you were right. We couldn't have kept Oliver. This war, our busy lives, our ages... it just wouldn't have worked out."
I'm glad you came to see reason, Severus thought bitterly, wondering if his mood would ever improve.
Grateful he kept his mouth shut, Severus changed the subject. "About Edgar Bones..."
"Are you going to ask Dumbledore for help?" Lily asked.
"No, I'm not," Severus stated shortly. "We've already been through this enough. I need to talk with Bones directly. The sooner, the better."
"And how are you going to convince him that he needs to go into hiding? He's an Auror, Sev. He's not likely to want to hide. He might think that cowardly."
"Gryffindors," Severus mumbled.
"Actually, Edgar was a Hufflepuff," Lily pointed out lightly.
"All the better," Severus said sarcastically. "Look, that doesn't matter. The facts are what they are. He had been tracking Dolohov and Travers before, and the facts line up again. You saw what the Death Eaters did to Oliver's grandmum. Imagine an entire family killed, destroyed in a matter of minutes."
For the first time during their conversation, Lily shuddered. "I... can't imagine," she whispered. "I'm sorry I haven't been very realistic," she added after a pause. "Seeing your memories was one thing, but the reality of a war... I've only seen the beginning."
"I don't expect you to know what it's like, Lily," Severus said gently, wrapping an arm around her and drawing her near. "If I've been sidetracked and moody lately, it's because I can't help but dwell on this war and everything that happened the first time round. There's still so much I wish I knew, especially how the Dark Lord kept himself alive."
"One thing at a time, Sev," Lily said. "Maybe you can Floo Edgar later and see if he can talk."
"It's already too late tonight," Severus said, looking at the clock on the mantle. "He has young kids. Tomorrow."
x x x x xThe following evening, Severus stood in front of the fireplace, a handful of Floo powder in his grasp. Lily was busying herself in the kitchen, giving Severus the privacy he needed. Inhaling to ready himself, Severus tossed the powder into the grate, calling, "Edgar Bones's house!"
He leaned forward and stuck his head into the flames, seeing the unfamiliar surroundings of a kitchen. A family of five was gathered around the table having dinner, and Severus immediately felt guilty for calling.
"Snape?" Edgar asked in shock. "Is something the matter?"
"I, uh... sorry," Severus replied, turning red. "Sorry," he added to the family at large. "Can you please Floo back when you're finished?"
"Of course," Edgar said, frowning.
Severus broke the connection, withdrawing into his home. He went for the couch and sank into it, muttering to himself. Five minutes later, Edgar's face was peering through the fireplace at him.
"What did you want?" the older man inquired hastily.
"Do you have a few minutes?" Severus asked.
"Sure."
"It might be better if you stepped through," Severus said.
"Very well." A few seconds later, Edgar was standing in Severus's sitting room, his arms crossed impatiently over his chest. "Well, Snape? This had better be important. Why did you call during dinner?"
"I hadn't intended to call during dinner," Severus said defensively. "This isn't urgent... at least not yet. You have... probably a few days..." he trailed off, unsure of how to phrase his message.
"What are you talking about?" Edgar demanded.
"Listen, Bones," Severus stated firmly, "I'm just going to get to the point. You and your family are in danger. Serious danger."
"Well, of course we're in some level of danger," Edgar almost scoffed. "This is a war we're fighting, after all. But we have the proper enchantments on our house. We're no less safe than anyone else, perhaps even safer since I'm an Auror."
"You don't understand," Severus insisted, trying not to get too worked up. "Listen... you've put yourself at risk because you've been trailing Travers and Dolohov for months now, and as you know, they know about it. I overheard talk that your family was going to be targeted in early December. They mean to kill you all. You must go into hiding. You cannot stay in your home."
"How do you know all this?" Edgar asked skeptically. "And if my family is in danger, why hasn't Dumbledore alerted me himself?"
"Because Dumbledore doesn't know everything, Bones," Severus said, annoyed. "I was in Knockturn Alley a couple of days ago procuring rare ingredients for potions, and I overheard Travers himself saying it wouldn't be long until you were targeted."
Edgar didn't seem completely convinced. Severus almost dared the other man to try and argue, to try and say that he knew of Severus's past associations with some of the people who were now Death Eaters, but the Auror didn't say anything of the sort.
Finally, Edgar asked, "You're sure of this?"
Severus gave a curt nod. "Absolutely."
"Very well." Setting his mouth in a grim line, Edgar said, "Thank you, Snape. If what you say is true, it's better to be safe than sorry. You..." For a moment, he didn't meet Severus's eye, but then he gazed up and offered him the slightest of smiles. "I never thought a Slytherin could be so honorable, and while I had my doubts, you've more than proven me wrong."
Unsure of how to respond, Severus simply nodded again.
"Good night, Snape."
Edgar headed for the fireplace and threw some powder into it, announcing his destination. He stepped into the flames just as Severus replied, "Good night, Bones."
