A/N: SPOV

Albus cleared his throat, using his left hand in order to hide his right one.

"I'd like to start the meeting now, so that we can be done with time for the New Year. Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny... upstairs." Fred and George grinned and waved as the four of them stomped their way upstairs, grumbling.

Severus strode over to his usual corner, but found Mundungus frowning, lighting his pipe.

"Molly won' let me smoke at the table and told me to be over here." He muttered, putting the tip of his wand to the the pipe.

As the rest of the seats at the lengthy table were being filled up, Fred and George were fighting over the spot next to Tonks. Tonks smiled at their flirtatious shenanigans as Fred lounged across George's lap, wagging his eyebrows at her.

"Hey Tonks, at the stroke of midnight, would you kiss me for the new year? I'm a bloke, you're... the only witch here near my age that isn't too related to me..."

The muffled voice of George cut in. "You know, I'm actually the more handsome twin; I have to keep carrying this bloke's performance." George's wand zapped Fred in his buttock, popping him off of his lap.

Tonks laughed at the harmless flirting while she heard a quiet growl from Remus.

"Fred, George," Minerva chuckled, tipping her glass towards them, "as much as you two were the worst troublemakers Hogwarts has seen in decades, you two really shouldn't press your luck with Tonks here. You should have seen her snowball Severus on Christmas."

Though Fred and George were grinning merrily a moment before, their faces were now deflated with shock. "I'm... going to sit over here now." Fred stated, shuffling off to an empty seat.

George nodded solemnly, and sat next to Fred. Severus was biting the inside of his cheek to not laugh at the incorrigible pair struck dumb at the single statement. Everyone had been seated, and Severus saw a sharp twinkle in Albus' eye as he took the only chair available to Nymphadora's immediate left side. Remus was on her right.

Remus had muttered to Tonks, "we'll talk about this later, Dora."

Severus pretended to not hear the angry threat in his voice. "I adequately defended myself in the snowball fight which was on Boxing day, not Christmas proper." Severus' eyes flicked over Nymphadora and saw the bracelet on her left wrist, and her right hand in Remus'.

"Now if we're done going over frivolous information, may we get started with the meeting?" Severus' voice conveyed boredom, and his misdirection ploy worked once again.

"Very well. Remus, how did speaking to the werewolf pack go in Fenrir's absence?" Albus asked.

"Most of the pack won't be won over with sentiments and speeches. 'Might makes Right' is how they live. The strongest ones are feared, respected, and are given the right to rule. Fenrir's Beta wolves respond to any threat of insubordination with a slow and painful death."

"Arthur?"

"The Ministry seems secure, but I don't see Scrimgeour being proactive. Instead they are attempting to look like they are doing something."

Molly nodded. "He was here for Christmas and pulled Harry aside, just like what Fudge wanted to. Use him as a puppet and wave his hand to the cameras."

"Tonks?"

"Hogwarts has 'round the clock guards, and the vampire attack was proven to be an isolated incident." Her reply was stilted, and Severus repressed the urge to console her.

"I believe that brings us to Minerva."

"The necklace was a piece of nasty work, intended to kill whomever held it. Katie Bell is still at St. Mungo's, recovering. We don't know who set it up nor their intended target."

"Hagrid, what about the Centaur herd?"

"The policies o' the Ministry really ticked them off. They ain' gonna help defend Hogwarts against the Death Eaters. They think we're one an' the same."

"And Severus has already told me that Voldemort has continued his recruitment drive, and tempting people with Dark Magic through sacrificing muggleborns on Yule."

Mad-Eye's face contorted in rage. "Who was it, Snape? Who died in the circle this time?"

"His role as spy will not be risked over people whom are already dead. Good people die in wars, Alastor."

"People? He could have saved them, Albus!" Remus stood from the table, knocking his chair over violently. "Instead he sits at the table with us while his hands are soaked in blood!"

Severus kept his seat as Tonks stood and tried to calm the werewolf down.

"The muggle-borns' fates were sealed before I even saw them that night. Judging from the look of your face and the state of your body, you've spilled blood as well. I'm doing my job for the greater good. How well have you done with the werewolves?" Severus' sneer could be heard in his words as he turned his head away from Lupin. Had this not been an Order meeting, he wouldn't have turned his back on him for even a second.

"Greyback told me what you did to the witch, Snivellus. How you slid your cowardly prick into her, over and over as she screamed..." Lupin bared his teeth as he said it, and Severus was standing with his wand drawn and steadily pointed at Remus' chest, eyes furious.

"Remus, that is enough." Albus demanded, rising slowly from the table.

"You dare call me a coward, when you are too ashamed to admit how the scent of fear turns you on? Even now, your pupils are dilated because of Nymphadora here. Tell me, when Fenrir bit and turned you, did he also nip your bollocks off?"

"Severus! Wand away." Mad-Eye's staff had slammed into the ground for attention.

Nymphadora's left hand was on Severus' chest while her right one was on Remus', trying to keep them apart. Severus' left hand covered Tonks' protectively.

"Her name is Tonks to you! And get your filthy hands off of my girl, Snivellus!" Lupin spat, trying to pull Tonks away from him.

"She's not yours if you have to say it that way, Lupin." Severus lowered his wand, pulling Nymphadora's hand away from his chest slowly. The firm grip she had let him know she was trusting him. "Was there anything else we needed to discuss, Headmaster? Or must I be exposed to another round of 'Kicking the Snape'? Lupin and Moody here would need two more people on their side to keep it the historical four-against-one that I was so used to back in Hogwarts. You and Minerva can turn a blind eye to all like you two always did."

Hagrid stomped over, shaking his pink umbrella. "Don't blame Albus and Minerva."

Minerva spoke up. "It's okay, Hagrid. He's right about that."

After a few moments of silence, Severus shrugged his robes on his shoulders and paced over to the bar and poured himself another measure of scotch.

Albus nodded and dismissed the meeting, and Severus took the moment to step out into the garden to calm himself. He had his mission to complete, and he didn't have the luxury of wallowing in his remorse until after the war was over. And he had so much more ahead of him to still do.

"Severus." He turned, surprised at who had followed him out here.

"Molly. I apologize for making a scene in your home." Severus sipped at his drink.

"You did what you could." She replied, pausing. "You did what you had to."

"Eventually that excuse won't hold up. What if it were one of your children? Someone you loved?" Severus downed the rest of the drink, heading back inside for a refill.

"I'd die protecting them." She said simply.

Then I'm already dead. He mused as he saw Remus leave out the front door. Tonks approached him and took his glass away, refilling it.

"Molly, I'm not proud of what I did. I hope I am forgiven someday." Severus muttered, thanking Tonks when she handed him his glass back.