Chapter Twenty Five: More Evil Destroyed:

Moody smiled grimly as he took out the small bag he kept the destroyed Horcruxes in. He had found two more and wanted to bring the good news to the order. He had the goblet, ring and diary, Kreacher kept the locket in a safe place, ready to bring it out at a moments notice. Now he had found one more, this one in Hogwarts, the diadem of Ravenclaw and he had destroyed it. He knew there was one more and had a very good idea that it was the snake that Voldemort called Nagini.

"I looking around Hogwarts and found this." He said holding it up. "One more down and one to go as the saying goes."

"So all we have to do is get the snake?" Kingsley asked.

"That is correct." Moody said. "I know my boy is gonna have t' take out Voldemort himself, but this will make it that much easier for him."

"I hope he really does not know what he has to do." Molly said.

"He does, too smart t' keep that from him." Moody said. "Ye heard what he said earlier this summer."

"I just wish it was not up to him to kill Voldemort." Molly fretted.

"Well he is not alone." Remus said. "We are here to help him."

"I know, but it is still hard to see him have go through this." Molly said.

"Severus will be here soon." Dumbledore said. "We cannot talk to him about this."

"If you trust him why not talk about it to him?" Sirius asked.

"I don't want Voldemort finding out." Dumbledore said. "I have told Severus he does not have to go back if he does not wish to, he sees it as his duty."

"We have Skeeter." Sirius said.

"I know but Severus is adamant he goes back." Dumbledore said firmly.

The man they were speaking about limped back into Grimmauld Place for yet another order meeting. The meetings were taking place in the kitchen as it was more private (meaning certain teens could not spy on them) and Snape was once more not in a good mood. He had gone to see Voldemort and was greeted by Bellatrix Lestrange. To say he was not happy to see her would be an underestimate. He was in pain from what she had done to him and he only wanted to kill her for it.

Voldemort had used actual physical punishment on him once when he first came back. Since then it had been only magical torture and that very rarely. Bellatrix on seeing him had tried to kill him, if Voldemort had not been there she would have. She accused him of leaving her in Azkaban all those years, Snape replied he wished she was still there. Now wounded he headed for the order meeting in a very foul mood. At least he would get satisfaction at the fear soon to grace Sirius's face when he found out his even more insane evil cousin was free. The meeting got underway and Snape looked over at Sirius who was tossing bottle caps for Crookshanks to catch.

"So who was broke out?" Kingsley asked.

"Rookwood, the Carrows, Rudolphus and Rabastan Lestrange oh and Bellatrix Lestrange." Snape said watching as Sirius scattered his bottle caps and looked up wide eyed at Snape. "Yes mutt your most favorite cousin is now loose and hates you more than anything she said for me to give you her hate."

"You could return the favor." Sirius said. "So she try anything with you?"

"As in bed me? As if I would, she is a whore, much like you." Snape shot at Sirius.

"Why you!" Sirius getting up to get at Snape only to be held back by Moody. "Let me at him!"

"Hnn I only speak the truth." Snape said softly.

"Enough!" Molly snarled getting up. "Meeting over, I mean it leave all of you!"

"I hate you." Sirius muttered to Snape as he headed out.

"Severus you stay, I want a word." Molly said and Snape stopped and turned to face them.

"I better stay too." Tonks added.

Once everyone had left Snape turned to face two very determined witches. In all honesty he had not expected anyone to realize he was hurt. After all he had taken care of it himself and the cut did not hurt that badly. It was not even bad enough to go to Poppy for really. He stood looking over at the two women, if he had remained sitting he would not have an advantage as he did now. Or so he thought, he may have towered over the women but the look they gave him made him feel very small. He lowered his eyes and could not look the women in the eye.

"Okay what did she do to you?" Molly asked.

"Nothing major, she threw something at me, got my leg." He replied.

"Let's take a look." Molly said.

Upstairs Sirius was trying to head for the kitchen when Moody bodily dragged him to the sitting room and shoved him onto a couch. Moody was not happy that Sirius still managed to upset Snape no matter what he was told. Moody trusted Snape (Veritaserum did have its uses after all) and he did not like how Sirius acted around Snape. Snape could die at the hands of Voldemort at anytime and Sirius needed to realize that the head of Slytherin really was on their side. Harry was sitting reading a book, or pretending to as Moody stood over Sirius.

"What is it with ye boy?" Moody growled at Sirius. "Ye think ye are better than everyone ye got to treat people badly?"

"This is Severus Snape we are talking about, he is wicked, cruel and always has been!" Sirius said trying to defend himself. "You heard what he called me!"

"That was payback an' ye know it." Moody said. "He is not bad, aye he made a few mistakes, and so have ye. Ye did try to kill him an' James Potter had to rescue him and Remus from your idiot mistake."

"I said I was sorry, how many times to have to say it?" Sirius snapped.

"Until you mean it." Moody said. "I am aware how ye were raised, ye did no' have a good childhood however that gives ye know excuse to treat Severus so badly."

"You only like him because he is Slytherin." Sirius sulked.

"Ah like him because he has a good heart, he would deny that to his dieing day but there it is." Moody said. "He is tough as steel most times, we have to support him or he will not survive. You really want him t' die?"

"No sir." Sirius said then added. "He annoys me!"

"Aye an' you annoy him." Moody replied.

"Well they are both alpha, that could be part of the problem right there." Remus said from the doorway. "Both want to be on top and so they constantly fight."

Harry did not have much to say but he knew Remus was right. It was tiring really to watch Sirius and Snape constantly fight. There was a war on and they still could not stop fighting each other! It could be very annoying to him as he respected Snape and liked Sirius very much! Harry finished typing up his letter, made copies of it and sent one copy by owl and the other by muggle mail. He saw Snape walk through Grimmauld place and knew by the man's posture he did not want to be talked to. Clearly he was in a bad mood and Harry stayed out of his way as he left the house.

Yes a bit short but not much to say. More Horcrux are now destroyed and things are not going the way Voldemort really wants them to. Sirius is still a prat and Moody needs to take him in line at times. Still I stand by what I believe, Snape had a good childhood, he was poor but he was raised with love. Sirius was rich and raised with a cruel and harsh hand and he became a bully for it. But now he under Moody's care he will learn to be a good man and wizard.