"Albus, they have begun killing them. Right now it may be only Petra Volkhov, next it will be so many more." Minerva looked to the old Headmaster, a meeting was being held between six of those who worked in the school, a small gathering to update one another.
An order meeting would be called over the course of the weekend.
Severus massaged the bridge of his nose as Albus appraised Minerva.
"She is right Albus, I have seen the extent of their viciousness for myself." He chimed, his voice flat as he turned to stare out a large window.
Christmas was coming, the snow was falling steadily to the ground and the first part of the term was nearly over.
"We need to be certain the children are safe." A stern female voice spoke and he glanced to Poppy, she looked concerned, and incredibly pale.
"The children will be perfectly safe here." Albus spoke calmly, hands folded in front of himself.
"And over the break?" Sprout chimed, her eyes glistening, Remus cast a look at Severus' back.
He knew that despite the fact the man didn't show it he was incredibly concerned. This had been exactly what Hermione was trying to stop when she'd come to them. Would history repeat itself no matter what?
"We should send an alert of some time to those parents who are muggles, offer to keep the children over the winter break."
"And what of the summer?" Minerva cut in, "What of those graduating at the end of the year, there will be no safe place for them."
"This is war Minerva, we must do what we can but we cannot be expected to look after every young witch and wizard here beyond their education."
"And you are willing to allow Hermione to go out there into it." Sharp eyes locked onto Severus' back when she spoke. His spine went rigid, his shoulders squared.
Remus massaged his temple. It was never a good idea to so much as bring up his adoptive daughter to Severus, much less speak of her being in danger.
"You will not bring her into this."
"She is no more valuable than any other student! We must protect them all!" Minerva was slipping into a deep Scottish brogue, Poppy edged toward her, an arm snaking around the witch's shoulders, an attempt to soothe her. Sprout looked absolutely horrified, Albus was watching with interest.
"Perhaps she is not, not to you. She is more valuable to me than anyone in this world, and she should hold more value to you, or shall I remind you that had she not changed the timeline you would have been killed this year." Severus turned, black eyes narrowed on Minerva, his voice a hiss.
Albus held up his hands, palms out each facing one of the arguing professors.
"Let us stop this before something is said that cannot be taken back." He spoke calmly, Remus clenched his jaw. In some ways Minerva was right, in others she was not. He would always value Hermione above all of the others, Harry, Rose, Fern, the Weasley children, this was his family, he would always find a way to defend them first and foremost.
Was it selfish? Most certainly.
It was also human nature, and something that none of them could stop, no matter Minerva's claimed virtue he knew- she would safe a Gryffindor first, they were closest to her heart. Just as Sprout would a Hufflepuff.
"We will further discuss this during the meeting, you are all dismissed." Albus breathed, his blue eyes were losing some of their sparkle. Remus knew the man was tired, they were fighting on both ends at this point, against the Ministry that Lucius steadily shifted in his direction and those killing muggleborn witches and wizards.
Severus was the first out of the room, sweeping past Minerva with a glare that could have frozen the black lake as his robes and cloak billowed behind him.
Remus shook his head. The man always did have a flare for the dramatic.
SSHG
"Oh! I'm sorry Professor." Hermione dodged to the left just before she could ram fast first into a furious-faced Professor Snape. He looked down at her, his eyes unfocused and she tipped her head, her lips pursed.
"Quite alright Ms. Lupin, pardon me." He grunted and made to go around her. She couldn't even begin to fathom why but she side stepped to stand in front of him, blocking his exit.
He growled low in his throat and her stomach flipped pleasantly.
"Is everything okay, Professor, you look upset?" He cleared his throat and made to go around her again, she stepped in front of him again and he narrowed his gaze on her.
Couldn't she see he just wanted to be away from her?
"Won't you tell me what is going on?" She reached out and put a hand on his arm, he leapt back as if he'd been struck by lightning, his eyes wide on her face. "You can trust me."
She looked so hurt, so bothered at the idea he didn't trust her and he was torn. A groan tore from his chest.
Gods why did she have to be so persistent.
"Odd little witch, aren't you?" He exhaled, finally finding something to say, she tipped her head at him.
"You have no idea." She answered with a coy little smile and his heart stuttered.
It was clear she didn't remember, at least not the way he needed her to remember, but still, this was progress.
He'd not heard her say those words in so long it made him want to latch his mouth onto hers and breathe her in until he couldn't tell where she began and he ended.
"You truly desire to understand my distress?" He cocked an eyebrow and the witch gave a quick nod, her amber eyes glowing up at him as she kept her gaze on his face.
It was disconcerting, to be the center of her attention and he wasn't sure how he felt about it.
It had been so long since he'd even entered her orbit, now he was being drawn in, she was the sun, she would burn him alive before he could touch her.
His mind was in absolute turmoil.
"You are my mentor, and, we speak often, surely we can talk about what is troubling you." She watched his face, her eyes focused on his and he let his shoulders relax, his head tipped in a little nod.
"Not here then, Ms. Lupin, would you be comfortable in my personal library?"
Her face lit with the most brilliant of smiles and he almost groaned again. Gods he'd missed that smile being pointed at him.
"I would be more than comfortable in any library, sir." Severus gave a nod and with the flick of his hand motioned for the witch to follow him.
He wasn't sure how he would open up to her without divulging too much. Perhaps he could speak with her and spend even more time with her, perhaps she would remember then?
Otherwise he may lose her forever, she would graduate and move on, none the wiser.
The mere idea made his soul cry out its agony.