Chapter 3
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EcargWillOneDayRuleTheWorld: Woops, Dumbledore probably was the Headmaster, that was the one fact we didn't check. Thanks for catching it :)
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About a week had past since the Dark Lord had given Severus his tasks and he had little to report. He followed Dumbledore consistently that whole week but had seen nothing too suspicious. In fact, Severus was starting to worry about the lack of information he had to provide for his Master. All of the Death Eaters knew that no information meant no mercy.
The day before Severus and the other Death Eaters we due back at Malfoy Manor for the week's meeting, Severus opened his window to let in an owl who had rapped its beak on the glass to be let it. The bird fluttered into the small, dark house and held its leg out for Severus to untie that morning's Daily Prophet. After doing so, he payed the owl a Knut for the paper who wooted thankfully and took flight once more out the window.
Severus had begun questioning whether he should even continue receiving the prophet. Not much of it was ever news to him anyways, seeing as his organization was the cause of most of the news these days. He leafed through the paper as usual, however, and came across an article about the death of Marlene McKinnon and her family.
Mckinnon Family Found Dead
Marlene McKinnon, a blonde woman who was part of the
anti-He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named movement was found
dead late last night in her home, along with the rest of her
family. Due to the fact that the Dark Mark was found over
this disturbing scene it seems that she was killed by He-Who-
Must-Not-Be-Named's followers who have made themselves
known as the Death Eaters.
The article continued on a little more but Severus stopped reading it; he had lost interest. He continued perusing the paper and came across an advertisement that highly interested him. He let himself slightly sigh in relief as his eyes eagerly devoured the information on the page.
Hogwarts Professors Needed
Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft and Wizardry is in need
of three new additions to their staff. If you meet the qualif-
ications and would like to work as a Potions, Divination, or
Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor, please apply by
meeting with the headmaster, Albus Dumbledore.
Severus read through the article a few times. This was exactly what the Dark Lord wanted him to do. If he was to get the position, he would have constant information on Dumbledore and probably more on the Order of the Phoenix. He put the post down, making a mental note to apply as soon as possible. Until then, he would continue to keep a close eye on the headmaster. Deciding to start his search with the Leaky Cauldron he apparated on the spot and arrived on the Muggle street by the entrance. He went unnoticed by the numerous shopping Muggles as he entered the pub they couldn't see.
As usual, the building was occupied by a few groups of people, all talking amongst themselves. Severus walked towards a table in back and sat down. Within a few moments, someone came to get his order and he was sitting, pumpkin juice in hand, waiting for Dumbledore to come. As he sipped the juice, he began to look around him at the people residing in the pub. He didn't recognize majority of them, but towards another corner he saw whom he believed were Frank and Alice Longbottom, along with their son. He had not heard they had a son and therefore did not know the boys name. It did not trouble him much at all.
He heard the door open again and turned to see who had entered. When he saw who it was he began to choke on the drink he had taken moments before and quickly turned away so as not to be noticed. The person who had walked into the Leaky Cauldron was none other than Lily Evans, in the flesh. She was accompanied by James and her son, Harry. Together the three of them made their way over to where the Longbottoms were motioning for them to join them.
Lily Evans. Severus' mind seemed to have gone blank. Last week he had wanted nothing less than for her to appear in his presence but now that she had Severus had began to panic. His first instinct was to discreetly leave the bar, unnoticed by her so as to not have to talk to her. But this seemed to cowardly. And why should he run from her? He did want to talk to her, didn't he? He was suddenly very unsure. Risking another look at her, he saw that she had not noticed him at all and while his mind was suddenly buzzing with fear and possibility hers was probably concerned about nothing but what to order!
At first this angered Severus, until he realized he was supposed to be hiding in the first place and it would not do well to be seen by a member of the Order of the Phoenix, as he was supposed to be watching her organization's leader. Not until then had it really struck Severus how much she and him had drifted in different directions. So much so that it seemed like an uncrossable fissure had appeared between the two ex-friends.
He had joined the Death Eaters, the one thing Lily Evans truly despised. And she had joined the Order. And they were now enemies in a war. It was possible that she did not know he had joined the Death Eaters, but this was slim chance. Sure, they hadn't really talked since before they joined but he had always made it pretty clear which direction he was heading.
Despite all of this, Severus sincerely missed being friends with Lily. They did not have a lot in common, something that was always pointed out by Lily's other friends as they questioned and judged the friendship, but they were each others first friends at Hogwarts. And that, Severus was sure, had to be a bond that never truly died. Then again, she had married his worst enemy. Potter.
She was far too good for him he decided. Potter was arrogant, lazy and cruel, several qualities Severus was disgusted by. Then again, he had joined the Death Eaters and probably was a worse of a man to Lily. Feeling extremely saddened, Severus continued to drink his pumpkin juice. Once he had finished that, he ordered a small firewhiskey.
About half an hour later, Severus had finished that and one more, his internally thoughts continuing on the entire time. He was about to go talk to Lily, about to stand up, when she stood up instead and grabbed her jacket. This was it, either he talked to her now or never. But Severus couldn't move as he watched he put on her son's jacket as well, wave to her friends, and leave the pub with Potter. He watched through the dingy window as she and her family walked away without a backwards glance. Feeling defeated for almost no reason, Severus finished his drink, paid, and left the pub as well.
As he walked out the door, he was surprised to see Dumbledore sitting at the bar. Severus was completely unsure when he had entered, seeing as he was so wrapped up in his thoughts. Cursing himself, he left quickly. At least he had the job application news for his master.