It had been decided. The Order was being called back into action. Only this time Severus wasn't playing the double agent. He was firmly on the so called "Good" side of the game. How he had ended up here Severus wasn't particularly sure. He'd sort of wandered into the other side, lost, lonely and heart-broken, not really knowing what he was trying to achieve. Now he was stuck here. 'Better here than dead I suppose'. He smiled grimly. The meetings were going to be held at the Burrow until a better location could be found. Of course now that Ron Weasley had ran off it was going to be more awkward than normal.

Mind you, Severus had more important things to be worrying about. For example, Hermione was going to be at the meeting. She had moved back up to her rooms a few days after the 'incident', and he had managed to avoid speaking to her at all for the last week or so. He would rather that he'd been able to keep on avoiding her completely, but fate it seemed, had other plans.

Tick.

Tick.

Tick.

The clock's steady grumbling was the only indication that time was passing at all in the Weasley's kitchen. Dumbledore hadn't arrived yet but the rest of the Order was assembled around the family table. It was, after all, a rather solemn meeting. The fact that a meeting of the order was having to be called again was a sober event in itself, but when you remembered that Ron Weasley, Harry Potter's former best friend had ran out on his wife and family to join the newly formed group of Death Eaters…

Severus should have found the idea of Ron Weasley running off to join the Death Eaters ridiculous. After all, this was a so called Gryffindor and 'blood traitor' that had ran off, not an overambitious Slytherin who didn't know any better. But Severus had seen the letter. If was almost as though…he wasn't himself. Like he, he was a different person. It worried Severus more than he was willing to let on.

It was at this point that a brief flash outside alerted the group to Dumbledore's imminent arrival.

"Good evening everyone," he began as soon as he came in. "Glad to see you've all kept yourselves out of trouble." Dumbledore allowed himself a brief pause before continuing. "However, the recent events are grim indeed. You have all received my briefing on the recent events and familiarised yourselves with it, I presume?"

There was a murmur of agreement from the group around the table.

"Very good. Now I think the first thing we should do is establish who is the leader behind the attacks. Severus, I believe you have a theory on this?"

"Indeed," Severus murmured quietly, "I have a feeling that the attack on Miss Granger and the other Death Eater attacks are linked. After looking at the letter to Miss Granger from Mr Weasley…" At this point there was an involuntary intake of breath around the room, "I think that it is possible that the creature that attacked Hermione is in fact, the new leader of the Death Eaters." he paused. "This, of course would mean-"

"But that's… what makes you so certain?" A voice from the corner cut in. Severus looked over and realised with a sigh who it was. "I mean, do you really expect us to believe that-"

"I have proof Potter!" he growled at the boy from across the room.

"Like what? Hermione mentioned about those dreams she had. But nightmares aren't exactly solid evidence are they?"

"You're treading on very thin ice Potter-" Severus hissed at him.

It was then that Remus interrupted the argument. "Now both of you stop! This is isn't productive in the slightest!"

"No-one asked for your advice Werewolf!" Severus snapped at him without thinking.

"Hey! That's my husband your talking to Snape!" Now Tonks was involved, her hair tuning a violent shade of crimson.

"ENOUGH!" Dumbledore cried exasperatedly, bringing the bickering to an abrupt halt. They stopped glaring at each other and turned to looked at him.

"Now, if we could continue in a civilised manner?" Dumbledore looked at them all in turn. "As it happens, I have reason to believe that Severus is on the right track with his theory…" Severus looked over at Potter smugly. "But before we can deal with the problem, we have to find out more about this creature. Otherwise we could be fighting a losing battle. Now have you discovered anything new Remus?"

Remus stood up quickly. "As a matter of fact I have. I reckon that the reason I can't find information in the school or anywhere else is because, well… I think this, this creature might be of the Old World."

All the faces in the room turned to look at him in shock.

'The Old World!' Severus thought to himself in disbelief. 'Is he mad?'. But the words of the girl in his dream came back again to haunt him.

"The Wounds of the old world have been reopened.

They bleed Death and Despair."

Kinsley Shacklebolt was the first to speak. "But that's impossible! The Old World is simply a myth made up by old hags to scare the children. There's absolutely no proof of it ever existing."

Severus opened his mouth again without thinking. "Actually, I beg to differ."

"What do you mean?"

"I think Remus is right, is what I am trying to say Shacklebolt." Severus looked at the floor, not wanting to meet the eyes of the people that were now staring at him.

"And what makes you so sure?"

"I have my reasons."

"As do I." Dumbledore intervened.

"You do?" Kinsley enquired, clearly puzzled.

"Yes, indeed I do. And I think I know how I can prove it. Have any of you heard of the Libraria of Rūn?"

"Of course we have. It is one of the best known myths in the world!"

"And what makes you so certain that it's a myth?"

"Because no-one has ever found any proof Dumbledore! I mean…"

And so the meeting went on. And on. And on.

It was only several, long hours later that the group had finally came to a decision. Amazingly, they had came to an agreement that the Libraria of Rūn was the best place to find some answers. The problem was, no one had ever actually found the library. And this was when Severus had managed to be dragged into the mess again.

"So, as I already explained," Dumbledore spoke to the now weary looking group, "I think that this… unique link that Severus has with this creature will enable him to find what others have failed to. Now, is there anyone else who would like to help with the search?" he paused but no one replied. Severus hadn't been expecting anyone to volunteer anyway. After all, he wasn't exactly the most popular man in the world. "Very well, in that case-"

"I'll go with him." Hermione's voice was hesitant but clear.

"Really?" Severus murmured in shock, looking at her properly for the first time that evening. She was still pale sickly looking, but she no longer seemed as lifeless as before. Her brown curls framed her face and fell softly around her shoulders. She looked more determined than ever. She nodded at him in reply, her face displaying no obvious emotion, her deep brown eyes distant. He knew he should probably look away now…

"Brilliant!" Dumbledore cried enthusiastically, oblivious to the tension between the two. "Now, anyone else care to go? Remus perhaps?"

"I suppose so, if you think I would be of help." Remus replied distractedly.

"Good, good." Dumbledore replied. "Well, that's the meeting over then I think. You're all free to go now. Molly, could I speak to you a moment…"

The crowd began to stand up and a murmuring of voices broke out. Severus stood up, made his way out of the kitchen and headed out of the Weasley's house. He wasn't particularly in the mood for talking.

However, as he walked up the deserted, muddy path in the gathering gloom, he heard someone coming up behind him. He turned around.

It was Hermione.

Severus knew he had no choice but to greet her civilly. He loathed to do it. "Good evening Miss Granger."

"Severus." she replied shortly. Then they were both silent. Severus couldn't stand it.

"Why did you bother to volunteer? You do realise how dangerous it could potentially be?"

"Yes."

"And yet you still want to come with me?"

"He was my husband, Severus." Hermione looked at him steadily.

Of course. How could he forget… "I didn't save your life just so you could go risking it again."

"Then why did you save it?" she asked suddenly, gazing at him intently. Severus had not been expecting that. He turned away from her.

"If only I could tell you." he laughed humourlessly, before walking away from her. Behind him Hermione didn't move. Severus however couldn't have seen the look on her face even if he had found enough courage to turn around again. The night had closed in completely as he had been walking, leaving him with only the silvery moon for company.

"If only I could tell you." he whispered to himself, shaking his head.

It was the most truthful thing he had ever said.

……………

Hermione stood on the muddy garden path in the Weasley's garden, watching the tall, dark man walking away from her. He was a mystery to her, a mystery she didn't understand.

And Hermione hated not being able to understand something. She wanted to hate him, but he had been there for her when no one else had. She wanted to stay away from him, but something kept on drawing her back to him. She didn't understand it at all.

There was one thing she did know about him. His black eyes had a distinct fierce beauty in the moonlight. It was as though he was made for the night time.

For the darkness.