Chapt 6 Time Clicks In
The group filed in and took seats, remaining silent as Severus requested. The room shimmered and flickered for a moment before coming back into focus.
"Did anyone just see or feel that?" Setptima whispered out.
Molly whispered back. "Yes."
"Strange." Filius squeaked back.
Severus stilled, noticing a shimmer when he reached to open the door to Hermione's room. What the Hells?
Severus walked in. "Hermione, what's left of Order is here. Ron appeared and he has a story to tell and all of it revolves around him."
Hermione placed her book down. "Did you notice that shimmer just happened?"
"Yes, I've never heard of that happening." Severus replied.
She stood up from her chair. "It's because of me." Moving to him and staggered. "I suddenly feel weak."
Severus moved to hold her. "I'll lead you down."
Severus led her down the steps. "I have a surprise for you. Hermione is back." Leading her to a seat and sat her down.
"Hermione It's been twenty years. We've missed you and hope you bring good news."
Hermione remained silent and Ron floated up. "To her she met with some of you yesterday."
Ron explained everything that happened for the last two hundred years concerning all of the details, all of the failures and mistakes. He tried to gloss over each and every death of everyone involved, and despite his best efforts, all grew alarmed.
Harry shuddered and put his hands into his face. "Oh Gods! This has been going on for two hundred years!"
A bright light shown out in the room.
All held their hands up to shield and see, finding Ron ensconced in it as the room grew cold and a dark form appeared.
"Time." Ron muttered. "I knew I would always be here until another took my place. It's time."
DEATH allowed himself to be seen. "Ronald Bilius Weasley, time for your final travel to the Veil. The Watcher leaves and a Protector arrive in his place."
Ron watched the look of shock on Hermione's face. "I told you I would be here for you and this is it. The end play Hermione just like Wizarding Chess. I no longer need to watch over you."
All gathered watched DEATH take up Ron's hand. "You know time is set back to rights Hermione. Tell them as another takes my place."
Ron disappeared and all looked to Hermione.
"The shimmer you saw was time settling into place. Time in its proper place and not in flux because of my travels back and forth in time. Ron told you all of the past mistakes and this is our one time to make it count."
Just then the door to the kitchen creaked open and all in the living room moved up against the wall pointing their wands toward the kitchen door.
Dwight Justice stepped in. "The Protector DEATH mentioned has arrived."
Hermione choked out. "Dwight!"
Suddenly the wards flared yellow for a moment and went back to normal.
"Harry, check your list you carry with the names of the Order your created long ago." Dwight called out.
Harry took out the battered piece of paper and watched in disbelief as all the single line crossed through the names of the dead disappeared. "Merlin Dwight is it true?" He spoke in disbelief.
"We've been in hiding as you commanded us to. Master Snape, can you enlarge the room so the Order of the Phoenix can come inside? I can keep up the shield protecting them only for a few minutes."
Severus immediately did as requested, watching Dwight leave for a moment and came back in and stepped aside as witches and wizards filed in.
Severus watched Hermione using the wall to hold herself up and rushed to her and held her. "I've got you Hermione. Lean on me." He whispered to her and wrapped his arms around her.
Neville and Luna walked in hand in hand, followed by two young witches with blonde hair about 18 years old.
They kept coming in Lavender and her husband, with two twin wizards walking behind the couple.
"Severus, how could this be? Lavender and her family was murdered by Deatheaters long ago." Hermione whispered.
"Whatever you did in the past must have made a difference. Everyone survived in this new time so that must mean…"
People continued to pour in with Donovan and Erin walking in last.
Severus observed Donovan and noticed he was missing his arm, remembering he sliced it off to disconnect him from Voldemort.
Potter looked in disbelief, noting the names and found The Order of the Phoenix tripled its size with the now grown children plus the Order of the Light. He did not notice anyone approach him and jumped when he felt a tap on his shoulder. Whirling around, he found Ginny standing with three sons.
He grabbed them and held them tightly. "I've missed you so much!"
An hour passed as everyone caught up on things.
Hermione looked at Harry who was dazed at everything happening and decided to help him. Placing her wand at her neck she whispered Sonorus.
"Harry has called us here so we can see that we are not alone and soon it will be time to act. The order of the Phoenix is re-born!"
Everyone cheered and the room became quiet when Hermione held her hand up. "Everyone still have their coins?"
All nodded.
"Go back to where you've been staying and gather your things and await orders as the leaders plan teams and will assign you to one of three safe houses where you will be quartered as we take up the fight. I promise we have a plan and you will know shortly."
Harry finally gathered his senses. "Hermione is right. The time to fight the Dark Lord is now as time has let him grow complacent here as he focuses his attentions on other countries. Remember not to speak his true name in case he jinxed his name like last time."
Hermione continued. "You may Apparate directly from here." Wiping a tear away from her eyes.
Everyone left except for Harry, Arthur, Molly, Donovan, Erin, and Dwight.
"Severus get a Pensieve so I can place my memories of the past that are revealed to me before they fade away once Time locks itself into place."
Severus led her to the couch and sat her down before rushing into his study and arrived back with a Pensieve and placed it on the table in front of her and watched her point he wand to her head and began pulling out small whispery tendril of memories and placed them in the bowl.
Everyone watched her noting Hermione looked more and more worn out with each memory removed. "All of you must review together. I must rest." Moving to lie on the couch and closed her eyes and immediately fell asleep.
Severus left the room and came back with a blanket and placed it on his wife before addressing Dwight Justice. "How are you here with a body Mr. Justice? The last time I saw you was with Ron Weasley and you were definitely ensconced in the Ghostly plane of existence." He growled out.
"Master Snape, call me Dwight or Justice. I can't answer your question as to why I am a mortal again. One moment I was chatting with Ron who is the only one who can see me because we are linked and next thing I know, I am waiting outside this house with the Order. Ron told me that everything was in place and I would be her Protector and left us to wait outside. I recommend we do as Hermione says though. Time is of the essence."
Arthur and Molly looked confused. "What's this all about Severus? What does Dwight mean?"
Severus watched everyone, noting only the Weasleys were confused at the conversation. That meant only those with direct contact with Erin remembered everything.
Severus pointed to the Pensieve. "Dwight is right. We must see what Hermione has placed in there."
At that moment Sebastion walked in calling out "Dad, I'm back! The Americans have agreed…" Falling silent when he saw the leaders of the Order of the Phoenix standing around a Pensieve.
"Always coming in at the most inopportune moments Sebastion." Severus growled out.
"Don't blame me, look who my sire is." Sebastion retorted back with a smirk.
"I'm sure everyone remembers my son." Motioning him over to stand beside him. "You might as well come along with us because you know most of it anyway."
"Mum's memories of the past?" Sebastion inquired as he moved to stand next to his father.
"Be silent and let's see what Hermione remembers." Motioning all to lower their head and soon felt himself sucked into the Pensieve.
It seemed like days they were in their watching her forays back in time. They watched as she contacted Justice to inform him of the Assassin's arrival to kill him and faked his death before Slightly could kill him. On and on it went, Hermione rescuing all of the murdered Order.
The longest time she spent was at a house with Severus, raising Sabastion and leaving on his Graduation night telling her son to go to America."
Everyone fell out of the Pensieve and Harry scrambled to the List of the Order of the Phoenix to look for five particular names and found them.
"Because of Hermione's actions, Slightly is now longer aligned with us, no doubt spying on us. We never found those with the Hidden Mark. They've laid low and bided their time until tonight! The Dark Lord knows we are re-constituted." Harry muttered.
Severus glanced at Hermione still sleeping on the couch. The one tool that would aide them was in bed with Voldemort now.
"Calm down Harry. If Slightly was informed of the Order I would have been called and dead by now. Hermione was very careful to ensure I remained with the Dark Lord. Call those five names to where you hid in the Forest of Dean to report in ten minutes and I will take care of them before they do damage."
He turned to Molly and Arthur. "You know Julia the best. Go to her and explain what has happened and arrange her fake death and bring her back here. She is in danger now."
"What do you need me to do Dad?" Sebastion spoke excitedly. After years of hiding and boredom he was ready to spring into action.
Severus regarded his son. There was no need for his soul to be tainted yet. "Stay here and watch over your mother." Holding his hand out when his son started to protest. "Remember all the time you spent with Ron and your mother learning tactics? There was a purpose in that as it was planned your mother would be unavailable. Using her memories you and Harry will plan raids that we can conduct immediately after this threat is taken care of."
Harry moved to the tall young man and patted him on the back, noting the look of disappointment. "Believe me you'll be happy not to get so involved at first. I was never great at planning, with Ron and Hermione taking care of that for me. They're not available and I am shite at planning. Can you help me?"
Sebastion found that he could do that. "Sure Harry. With what Mum revealed we can hurt him."
Harry caught Severus's eye and winked, smiling when the older wizard acknowledged the save.
"Off we go then." Severus replied in a firm tone. "Do not stray and be careful. Everyone report back when your task is complete."
"What of us Severus?" Donovan inquired holding Erin.
Severus handed him a slip of paper. "Go to the Forbidden forest and talk to the Centuar Bane and tell him Severus Snape calls on the Herd Pact to protect you. They have their own unique magic and Erin should be safe enough until this business is over and we can find a better place for you."
HGSSHGSSHGSS
Voldemort woke up, his Majiks alerting him to something not right. Something that he could not place his finger on. Looking over, he found Slightly sleeping beside him. It was probably nothing. Laying back down, his thoughts drifted about the meeting in Germany tomorrow when a treaty would be signed aligning that country to him. When he located Erin, he would kick Slightly out of his bed and the witch would take his place. He did not mind wizards but preferred witches over wizards.
HGSSHGSSHGSS
Severus sat at the edge of a clearing in the Forest of Dean wearing his Deatheater robes and mask. He remembered watching the trio from a distance every night they were there until the Sword of Gryffindor was recovered and Ron Weasley's return, re-forming the broken trust by saving Harry.
What Hermione did to bring them to this pinnacle of time was amazing, her logical steps and forethoughts of actions seemingly unrelated in her random arrivals became a pattern to ensure the Order survived for the future. He was amazed that she did not lose her mind with the random jumps.
He smiled. She was truly a Know It All just like when he taught her years ago. Even his mind was not as structured as hers and doubted that he could have accomplished what she did. Yet that witch was his and he thanked the Gods for that.
He was amazed that she did not lose her mind, keeping track of all the changes, the deaths she caused despite saving some. Sometimes she was caught by the Dark Lord and managed to escape the Dark Lord's clutches with the help of Ron, always leaving him safely ensconced in Voldemort's camp.
Loud claps of Apparation sounded and watched the three witches and two wizards arrive. They were not very bright. They should have arrived further out and walked in.
Severus watched them for a few minutes, noting their wands not even drawn.
He moved into the clearing and grinned behind his mask when all fell and bowed to him.
"The Dark Lord is disappointed with your service. Why have you not reported to Slightly that the Order is re-constituted?"
"Knight…" A bowed wizard stuttered. We agreed it was best to wait until we learned of their Safe House and plans. After twenty years of waiting, a few more hours could not hurt but help the Dark Lord. We live to serve our Lord!"
"Lived." Severus growled out pointing his wand and thought of dark intent. "Avadra Kedevra!" Killing all five at once.
He changed their bodies into one large bone and picked it up and walked to the lake a mile away and threw it into the lake.
HGSSHGSSHGSS
Harry and Sebastion poured over the spate parchments of different raids. "It would be nice if we knew the abilities of teams."
Harry clapped the young man on the back. "You always have to think of the best Sebastion. They lived without contact from me for twenty years and still loyal after all of this time. I think we can delay these raids for a week and when your Mum wakes we can constitute the teams and place them together based on the training and testing I can do in that short time."
Harry led the young wizard to the kitchen and poured steaming hot tea into two mugs and handed one to the younger wizard. "You remind me so much of your mother Sebastion. You've a quick mind, just like her."
Sebastion sipped his tea, pleased at the comparison to his Mum.
"I'll let you in on something Sebastion. Sometimes the meekest witch and wizards are the most ferocious fighters. Take for instance Neville and Luna Longbottom. In school Neville always feared your dad and scared of everything. Luna was constantly discounted because of, well….her uniqueness. Yet when everything came down those two were part of the ones to save the day."
Harry continued. "Luna, who is a kind, caring soul fought with such conviction during the Final Battle that I was surprised of. She fought and killed Deatheaters and I always thought she could not do that. She always respected life and balance and when push came to shove, she did what she needed to do. And Neville, Gods bless Neville, one of the meekest, scared wizards actually took out the snake of the Dark Lord and killed a Horcrux. He became a leader, gathering people and led them despite what they knew of him. I guess what I am telling you to hope for the unexpected. If I had to plan raids based on what I knew of them in school I would never have involved them. You have to trust that they will come through."
Harry continued. "Life is not like Wizard's Chess where each piece is known and their movements and actions when a situation or play is presented and react based on set abilities. You have to trust."
Sebastion nodded and sipped his tea, thinking on Harry's words.
Suddenly a crack of Apparition sounded in the leaving room and they rushed in finding Arthur and Molly holding a sobbing Julia with a small House Elf by their side.
"Second bedroom on the left has been prepared for Julia." Sebastion spoke in a low, soothing voice.
Arthur nodded to the young man in thanks and led Julia up the stairs, her House elf following wring her hands in despair.
Severus arrived back and found the living room empty and rushed to his still sleeping wife and casted diagnostic charms. Her magical imprint was low and decided to let her continue to sleep as all the others was normal.
He heard movement at the stairs and found Harry and Sebastion walking down.
"Severus, Arthur and Molly brought Julia her and they are attending her along with her house elf. She is very distraught."
Severus sighed. "No doubt because in an alternate past Slightly loved Julia and she loved him. In this new current the love is one sided where she loves him, but he does not."
Moving to Hermione, Severus picked his wife up and held her sleeping form in his arms. "The five have gone to wherever the Veil has decided for him."
The two wizards watched him carry Hermione up the stairs without a word.
Harry murmured. "There is one thing that I can tell you about your father Sebastion. He never cared for anyone until your Mum came into his life. That man loves her completely."
Sebastion murmured. "He always has and told me that if I found a witch like Mum that I should whisk her away and respect her always. I hope one day I find a witch so I can have what they share."
"I found my Ginny and she completes me. One day you will to Sebastion once all of this mess is through and you can come out in the open and live a normal life." Harry replied and moved to the sofa and laid on it. "Until tonight, I have not seen my wife in 18 years and when she arrived, well…I suppose you will know what it is like when you meet the right one. Good night Sebastion."
Sebastion watched Harry fall asleep and put out the lights with a flick of his wand and went to his room. He had a lot to think about.