The Second War
The Story of SarahSnape
Chapter 5
A Father's Worst Fear?
"What's the matter?" asked Kingsley as Sarah looked looking up at her from behind her desk.
"I'm three hours late for my lunch with Fred!" she answered, knowing he and George were both probably going insane with worry and fear. "He's going to freak and not to mention he's probably already freaking out over me just being late. When he finds out why he's going to freak out even more."
"If you want you can go now," said Kingsley. "Take the rest of the day off, you deserve it. If anyone asks, I'll cover for you. I mean after what you went through earlier it's the least that I can do. The Minister should have let you go already anyway."
"Thanks Kingsley," she replied feeling somewhat relieved now. She and Kingsley had grown close since she became an Auror; he was always looking out for her like an uncle would his niece that he cared a lot about. "I owe you."
"Just be careful that's all I ask," he said to her with a worried looked. After the run-in with Bellatrix just a few hours ago, his worry level was even higher now, as was Sirius' probably by now after, Tonks sending word to the Order.
"I will," she said and quickly Aperated to just outside Fred and George's shop. She opened the door after looking around to see if anyone or anything suspicious was going on. The run-in with Bellatrix had made her a little more jumpy than she would have liked.
The place was almost empty except for a young girl with jet-black hair, wearing a green shirt with blue jeans, just paying George for the things she had just bought. "Thank you and have a good day," she heard him say to the young girl before he looked up and saw Sarah walking towards him. The girl walked by Sarah and said "hi" before she left.
"Fred she's here!" George yelled towards the back as he walked out from behind the counter. "Where the bloody hell have you been?" He looked at Sarah with pure worry and fear filled deep in his eyes. "You have had us scared to death for the past three hours." At that moment, Fred ran out from the storeroom in the back. "We've been contacting everyone for hours and no one knew where you were." He sounded almost exhausted as he spoke.
Fred, almost knock George over too get to Sarah, and hugged her tightly. "You had us so worried," he said as he pulled back and looked in her eyes, seeing now that she was alive at the very least. "I thought maybe…"
"I know Fred," she replied softly to him, their arms still around each other, but enough room now to look at each other. "I'm sorry I was…detained in the Minister's office for hours." she paused for a moment and decided it would be best to just tell them. "There's something I should tell you both about why I am so late." She took a deep breathe knowing this was only going to worry them even more, but they would find out anyway once the rest of the Order did and if they came to the meeting tonight.
Fred and George said not a word, but Fred stepped back a little to give his girlfriend some room now that he knew she was alive. He could feel something was wrong, however, it showed in her eyes when she looked at him confirming the feeling in his gut. He was sure George could see it too; anyone that knew her would be able to for that matter.
"Kingsley and I had to do a little checkout for the Minister," she began, wondering if she should leave some 'details' out or not. "An old abandoned building, suspicious goings-on that kind of stuff. He said it was just minor things so it would be safe enough for me to go along. Kingsley didn't want me to go, for obvious reasons, but the Minister insisted on it since they have most of the Aurors, and everyone else that they could get, out looking for the escaped Death Eaters." She paused for a moment. "When we got there I told Kingsley it didn't feel right, something wasn't right there. I transported us into the building after sensing movement inside. I saw two Death Eaters and without Kingsley knowledge, I sent Tonks a telepathic message telling her there were Death Eaters here and we would need more Aurors because we were out numbered.
"It was at this moment that we heard a voice behind us and we turned around." She paused and looked right and both Fred and George, who were looking almost white as ghosts at the news she was telling them. "Bellatrix was standing there with her wand pointed at us. I told Kingsley I had a plan telepathically and had him knock some crates over to knock one of the Death Eaters out while I was distracting Bellatrix. I knew if I kept her talking to me that the Aurors would have time to get there, at least that was what I hoped would happen. It worked, but my plan still failed when I dodged one of her spells and sort of fell over a crate I didn't know was there. It was then that the Aurors came and she and the other Death Eater that Kingsley was dueling Disaperated. I was angry with myself for letting her get away. We at least got the one that was unconscious under the broken crates." but that wasn't enough for Sarah. She wanted Bellatrix and didn't care about anything else.
"You're okay though right?" Fred said immediately looking at his girlfriend who he loved more than anything in the world. He had fear in his eyes just from knowing what happened just a few hours ago.
"Yes I'm okay," she replied and both Fred and George gave a sigh of relief.
"Good," they both said at the same time, which made Sarah smile a little.
"Lets close early and go with Sarah to the Order," George suggested to Fred, knowing what his brother was already thinking. After today, work didn't seem that important right now.
"Yes, I think we should," Fred replied then walked over to Sarah and gave her a gentle kiss on the lips before saying, "You had me scared out of my mind."
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to," she replied to him before grabbing his hand and holding it gently.
"It's okay," he replied as George closed the shop and squeezed her hand tenderly.
"You two lovebirds ready?" George asked, teasing them both a little to lighten the mood now that they knew she was okay.
"Yes," answered Sarah before she stuck her tongue out at George playfully then laughing a little. They all three Aperated to Headquarters, meaning Sirius' house and where Sarah was living, knowing the Order was probably worried about her as well.
"Where the bloody hell have you been?" Sirius shouted the moment Sarah appeared in the kitchen followed quickly by Fred and George at her heels. "I've been stuck here worrying and scared out of my mind that something bad happened to you! Tonks just arrived about five minutes ago and told us what happened! You should have let us know before you went back to the Ministry!"
"Calm down now Sirius," Molly said softly as she rushed over to Sarah. "She's okay and we know that now." She looked at Fred and George and then at Sarah. "Are you three hungry? I have food ready if you are."
"I'm not very hungry right now Mrs. Weasley," answered Sarah, with a smile. "I'll eat later though I promise." She gave another smile at Mrs. Weasley who was always so nice to her, like a mother at times.
"We're not hungry either mom," Fred said as he sat down at the kitchen table.
"Speak for yourself!" George said with a laugh. "I'm starving." Everyone seemed to laugh, including Sirius who seemed more calm now than before, at least on the outside.
Sarah sat down in the chair next to Fred as George got his plate and sat down on the other side of the table across from Fred. "I'm sorry I worried everyone," she said softly. "I wasn't really thinking much after Bellatrix got away." She wasn't thinking much about anything except that Bellatrix hand gotten away.
"It's okay," Lupin replied from the other end of the table, understanding words she wasn't saying. "The important thing is that you are okay now."
"Yeah," said Sarah with a smile at Lupin and then a glance at Fred before blushing and looking over at Sirius. "Am I forgiven for worrying you so much?" Her eyes pleading for him to forgive her as she looked at him.
"Yes," Sirius said after a short silence as if he was thinking if he should forgive her for scaring the life out of him. "Always Paws."
She smiled at him and then she looked at Tonks. "Did you get the message to Dumbledore?" Sarah asked her after realizing she hadn't asked her that yet.
"Yes," she replied. "He said that he was sending word to some of the other Order members for an emergency meeting for tonight. That's actually why I am still here." She had sent word to Kingsley while Sarah was meeting with the Minister of Magic.
"Did he say if my dad would be here?" she asked curiously. Knowing Fred was going to be here she needed to know, but more knowing he would be worried about her and probably angry if no one told him what happened.
"No, I'm sorry," she answered quickly. "I'm sure he sent word to him though."
"I know Severus will want to know what happened," Lupin said and Sirius made an irritated sound at the name "Severus" and mumbled something that sounded like "Sneverus". Lupin shot Sirius a look, as did Sarah at the same moment. "If Dumbledore hasn't told him already that is."
"Bellatrix said that Voldemort," Sarah paused when Molly dropped the two plates, that she was holding, in the floor at the sound of Voldemort's name. Then finished what she was saying when Mrs. Weasley used a spell to repair the broken plates. "had sent my dad somewhere on his orders. I'm not sure what she was talking about though. Do you think it was planned? I mean having me there that is." This had accord to her when Bellatrix had said her dad was sent far away on the Dark Lord's orders.
"No," Lupin answered quickly before anyone else had a chance. "I believe that was more coincidence that Kingsley and you were sent there. I don't think she, nor anyone else, would have expected the Minister of Magic to send an Auror, who a known Death Eater that escaped from Azkaban wants to kill, out like that into the open."
"I don't know what he was thinking doing that in the first place," Sirius interrupted, sounding a bit annoyed and irritated. "He knows bloody well that Bellatrix wants you dead and sending you out on anything even if it's not supposed to be dangers, is just plan ludicrous. Anyone with half a brain would have known better than that."
"We are talking about the Minister here," Sarah pointed out to Sirius with a laugh. "He doesn't even want to believe that Voldemort is back after all." Again, everyone winced when Sarah called Voldemort by his name, but she ignored their reactions as she often. "I think he thought there was no chance that Bellatrix was that close to the Ministry anyway, after all he has convinced himself and half the wizarding world that the escaped Death Eaters are far away from here. I believe he just thought it was some pranks or someone's imagination playing tricks on them to be quite honest." The Minister's stupidity annoyed her more than anything, but there was no point in thinking about it.
"I agree," said Lupin. "He doesn't want to believe anything these days, especially anything to do with Death Eaters and Voldemort."
"Yeah," Tonks said, finally speaking up. "Kingsley told me just the other day that someone told the Minister they seen a Death Eater outside their house and all he did was laugh and say I assure you that all the escaped Death Eaters are far away from London by now and there are none left in this area.'" She shook her head sadly knowing what all the others were thinking exactly what she was.
"His stupidity will be the death of us all if he keeps this up," Sarah stated in a displeased and frustrated voice. When she said that she remembered something that the Minister had asked her earlier. "I almost forgot something the Minister said when I told him about what happened." She moved in her seat a little to get situated again. "He asked me if I thought the other Death Eater was you, Sirius."
This caused Sirius to laugh a little, knowing the Ministry still thought he was a mass murderer. "What did you tell him?" he asked curiously.
"I told him no," she answered looking right at him. "I told him the Death Eater was to short to be you. He was almost the same height as I am. I think he believed me and then he asked me something else." Sarah seemed to get a bet tense now when everyone stopped what they were doing to listen to her. "He asked if I had heard from you." This information caused Fred to spit his water that he had just taken a drink of, all over the place as everyone else froze and Tonks dropped her fork onto the floor.
"What?" Sirius, Lupin, Tonks, Fred, George, and Molly all shouted at the same time in the same shocked voices.
"You're kidding right?" Fred asked looking at her with his mouth dropped open and his eyes just as wide as everyone else's as they all stared at her in shock.
"No I'm not," she replied more serious than ever.
"Do you think he suspects that you know where I am?" Sirius asked quickly, feeling panic start to boil inside him. That was the last thing he wanted was for the Ministry to suspect Sarah of knowing anything about his whereabouts.
"No," said Sarah looking at him knowing what he was feeling, seeing it in his eyes clear as if he said it. "However, he knows that I was friends with Ricky and that you were very close to my mom and even me before you were sent to Azkaban." This was bad news, but as long as she stuck to her story, all would be fine and she knew that.
Lupin shook his head and looked down at the table. "Dumbledore is not going to like this," he said softly. If anyone suspected that Sarah knew where Sirius was or that they had contacted each other in any way she would be in a lot of trouble and probably lose her job, possible be sent to Azkaban.
"I know," Sarah replied. "I told him I hadn't heard from you, obviously." She looked at Sirius as she said that then continued. That's when he started asking me questions about Ricky." Everyone was very quiet by this point as they listened to her. "He asked if I heard from him and I said no. Then he asked if I knew were he was and I said last I heard he was in Egypt when he was sent there by the Ministry. He asked if I thought he had joined up with you somewhere or helped you to escape and I told him no and then pointed out that Ricky went missing almost a year and half after you escaped and he was thought to be dead. I think he believed me, but I'm going to be extra careful for a while anyway."
"That's a very good idea Sarah," approved Lupin as he looked at her with worry in her eyes. She was the youngest Auror every except into the Ministry. Her family was a friend of Sirius Black whom the Ministry thought was a mass murderer, not to mention she was best friends with Sirius' son. She was a member of the Order of the Phoenix, known to be close to Dumbledore when she was in school, and her father was a former Death Eater. So much they could use against her if they wanted; this wasn't good. He knew they would be keeping a very close eye on her and that worried him. If he hadn't looked tired and old in his ragged torn clothes before, he did now. "I think you need to speak to Dumbledore about this and see what he thinks." He knew if anyone would know, what she should do it would be Dumbledore.
"I plan to actually," replied Sarah. "Tonight after the meeting if I can get him alone. I don't want everyone in the Order knowing about this. Some don't trust me as it is, this would only fuel their suspicion even more." Those that didn't trust her father, with the exception of Sirius, did not trust her because of what her father had been, a Death Eater, now spy for the Order.
"Good," said Lupin with a soft smile. "He should know what we should do about this. I mean if the Ministry is becoming even a bit suspicious that you might be involved in Sirius' escape or know of his whereabouts or anything in that nature at all, it could be dangerous for you and the Order." Like she didn't already know that already.
"I know," she agreed. "I suspected they were going to asked me eventually anyway. I mentioned it to Dumbledore and my father both before. I just hope they keep on believing what I tell them."
"I just thought of something," Fred said looking over at his girlfriend again. "Do they know where you are currently living? Here I mean. Do they know you're living here?"
"No," she answered in a matter-of-fact tone. This was something she and her father had talked to Dumbledore about before she moved into Sirius' house. "I told them that after Bellatrix escaped that I moved into a house that my father had enchanted for my safety so that she would not be able to locate me in anyway, the 'safe house' I go to first before coming here most of the time. They didn't question me any further on that matter again. I think they trusted me on that or at least understood about the extra security from an 'overprotective' father."
"That sounds like a good plan," said Lupin, knowing what others had said when she wasn't around.
"We'll make sure you get a chance to speak with him, I promise," Sirius said sounding very sure. He sat back in his chair and smiled widely.
"Thanks Sirius," replied Sarah feeling a bit more at ease now. Molly decided to go upstairs and do some more cleaning before the meeting, while Fred and George talked to Lupin about the Minister of Magic and the Daily Prophet. Sarah just sat there not saying much at all, her mind still on Bellatrix.
"I think I'm going to go upstairs and take a shower before the meeting starts," she stated as she stood up not waiting for any responses. She squeezed Sirius' shoulder as she walked behind him feeling the stress of everything that was going on and that happened. Not only did he worry about her, his son going missing, but also about Harry, his godson who was at Hogwarts and the reason everyone was so on edge. Harry was Sirius', best friend, James Potter's son and the only person ever known to survive the killing curse. Voldemort wanted nothing more than to kill Harry and now that he was back and 'secretly' gaining followers it had everyone on edge. Everyone did everything they could to try and protect Harry. Sarah felt guilty for adding to Sirius' stress, but didn't know a way of avoiding it.
She sighed as she walked upstairs to her room and closed her door once she was there. She went right to her dresser and then to the wardrobe and got her clothes out she was planning to wear for the meeting. She took her shoes off in her room and then headed to the bathroom.
Her hot shower was nice and relaxing, part of her not wanting it to end. She got out, unwilling and quickly dried her blonde hair. She looked in the mirror concentrated hard as she watched her hair go from blonde to a dark crimson and long to short, just touching her shoulders.
"The others will be getting here in ten minutes," she heard Molly say knocking her bedroom door and she sighed to herself.
"Okay," Sarah yelled loud enough that Molly could hear her. She put on her clothes as quickly as she could and looked in the full body mirror hanging on her bathroom door. She had on a black long sleeve a tad low-cut cotton shirt that showed off her figure rather well, with a dark blue pair of jeans that looked faded in some areas. Her locket shown very well on the black shirt and she smiled.
She walked into her room and put on a pair of black tennis shoes over her white socks. She tired her shoes as she heard voices downstairs. "Someone's here already," she said to herself allowed. "Guess I better get downstairs at any rate, even if I don't really want to."
She met Sirius half way down the hall, he had been coming to tell her that Alastor Moody and Dedalus Diggle had just arrived. She took a deep breath before walking downstairs to the kitchen where everyone would be meeting. She saw Alastor first when she entered the room and smiled kindly at him. He was a retired Auror and had put more than his share of Death Eaters in Azkaban. He greeted her at once; his magical electric blue eye seemed to be examining everything. His magical eye could move all the way around, see through walls, tables, floors, Invisibility Cloaks (cloaks that let the person where it be unseen to all as long as they had it on), and even through the back of his own head.
"Good to see you alive," growled Alastor as he approached her. "Tonks just told us you had a run-in with Lestrange." Sarah got Tonks' eyes and glared causing her to blush slightly giving Sarah an apologetic smile.
"Yeah," was all she could say before three more members of the Order entered the kitchen as well. Hestia Jones, Elphias Doge, and Mundungus Fletcher or Dung as some called him, followed by Arthur Weasley not long after them. Everyone seemed to be in their own conversations, which made Sarah happy. Just moments later Kingsley showed up and smiled when she greeted him.
Before anyone could say anything, Dumbledore came in the kitchen followed by both Sirius and Remus. "Let's get this meeting started," Dumbledore said straight away, getting right to the point. He glanced at Sarah with a grave look in his knowing eyes behind his half moon spectacles.
"Hello Professor," she said as everyone took a seat.
"You're not in school anymore, you don't have to call me that," Dumbledore corrected her with a kind smile. "Now do you want to start with what happened today or let others give their news first?"
"Can the others start first please?" she said almost begging. He could see in her eyes she wasn't ready talk and nodded his head once before she took the only empty seat left next to Sirius.
"I believe Kingsley has an update for us," stated Dumbledore as he looked towards the Auror seated across from Sarah.
"The Minister is getting more uptight as of lately," he began. "He's been asking more questions to anyone close or that's ever been close to Dumbledore and Sirius. He's suspecting everyone again." Everyone stared at him and Sarah now understood what was up with the Minister during her little meeting with him. "His keeping a closer eye on anyone he thinks might know something." He then saw the look of fear that crept its way onto Sarah's face. "He doesn't suspect you anymore."
"He suspected me?" Sarah asked right as Sirius and Lupin asked, "He suspected her?" All three shocked at Kingsley's words.
"At first yes," he answered not taking his eyes off his young Auror friend. "After you left work I went to have a word with him. To be honest I felt he was being unfair keeping you there. So when I went in he asked me to sit. He said he wanted to know if I thought you had any contacted with Sirius or Dumbledore considering I seem to keep a close eye on you. I told him I was more than certain you hadn't and asked why he thought I would know. He said I seem to be close to you and worry about you a lot. I told him that it was because I felt someone should be looking out for you with all that has happened. I also told him since I was in charge of the search for Sirius, knowing he was close to your mum when she was alive; that I if I stayed close...if he contacted you, you might trust me enough to tell me." He gave Sirius a smile; everyone knowing he was giving the Ministry false leads on his whereabouts. "I told him you could be trusted and he seems to no longer suspect you. I'm pretty sure he believes me. He noticed I was willing to stake my career on you, I don't think he had any other choice but to believe me."
"Thank you Kingsley, that means a lot to me," replied Sarah, touched by his words.
"Anytime," he replied back to her. "So I think those of us that work at the Ministry should try and be more cautious than ever before, just to be on safe side." Tonks, Arthur, and Sarah all nodded in agreement.
"Sarah I believe it's time for you tell us what happened today," Dumbledore stated. Why he didn't ask Kingsley was beyond her knowledge, but she suspected that he had his reasons and she sighed heavily.
"Well," she started as she leaned back in her seat; all eyes on her.
"Hold on," said a cold voice from the door causing everyone to jump and turn to look at the door.