Severus's p.o.v.

I see Evelyn and Steve talking on the balcony. She smiles sweetly at him, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear. I frown at the scene being played in front of me. I do know she had some kind of feelings towards him but we never talked about it.

"So, are you enjoying the party?", she asks, leaning onto the fence, struggling with her balance a bit.

It's obvious she's a bit drunk.

"Parties are not really my thing.", he states, crossing his arms.

"Really? I would never tell.", she speaks and he smiles, looking at the floor.

"I just think you need to relax a bit more. You know, enjoy life, have some fun.", she speaks, looking at him.

"Most of the time I forget that you're Tony's sister and then you say something so Tony-like and boom... you're a Stark.", he tells her and she laughs, "Yea, we are quite different, in a way."

In that moment I can feel her struggling to push me out of her memory and, as much as I would like to see more, I know she still feels betrayed by Tony and this subject surely doesn't help so I pull myself out.

"Did I do it?", she asks, looking at me.

"Not really. We still have a lot to work on but I think you had enough for today. Besides, Fury will be here in any moment. ", I say, turning around.

I hear her jump up, "Fury! I completely forgot about him."

"You exited to see him?", I ask, turning back at her.

She gives me a small smile, "More like nervous. I feel so out of place since the recent turn of events and it's like he'll be meeting a new version of me. Does that make any sense?"

I return the smile and nod a little, "It does."

In that moment, we hear a few knocks on the door.

"Enter.", I say and Minerva opens the door.

"Albus would like to see you two. The secret agent has arrived."

X X X

I enter Albus's office and see him, Fury and Thor talking. The conversation is stopped the moment Evelyn walks in. Fury stands up, looking at her.

She smiles, "Hey Nick."

"Can I give you a hug or do you have new rules about that?", he asks and her smile grows bigger as she closes the space between them.

I can see him whispering something in her ear to which she mouths a "I know."

"I hope the men around you are taking good care of you.", he speaks as they break apart.

Thor smiles, looking at me, "We are."

"So, can I hear the news now or does the Order have to be present?", Fury asks as we all take a seat.

Evie takes a deep breath looking at me, so I give her a small nod of affirmation.

"So, we have a few new discoveries that are crucial for this situation.", she starts.

"That sounds very political.", Fury comments, placing his middle finger under his chin and the index one over his cheek.

"We found Strange.", she starts with the safest one.

It's very obvious that she's nervous but doing her best to calm her thoughts down and aline them with her words.

Fury raises his eyebrow, "How the hell did you managed to do that?"

"Well actually, he found us.", Thor speaks.

"He was informed that he is needed.", Evie speaks.

Fury frowns, "By who?"

Evie opens her mouth but then realizes that neither of us actually asked that question. We just went with what he said.

"Yea, we didn't ask that.", she finally tells him.

Fury narrows his eyes, clearly not happing with this hole.

"My father was there with a sword so the conversation shifted quickly.", Thor chips in.

Fury removes his hand from his face and blinks a few times, "I'm confused."

"I'm Ivar's daughter. That's Silver's real name. I'm the girl we've been looking for.", Evie tells, looking at Fury.

Fury doesn't show any particular emotion and that makes Evie tense up.

A few seconds pass before Evie speaks again, "Nick? You okay?"

"You mentioned a sword...", he says, completely ignoring the bomb Evie dropped on him.

"My father gave Evie the sword that should be able to kill Ivar when Evie unlocks her powers.", Thor speaks and Fury's eyes land on Evie once again.

"And how's that going?", he asks.

"Not quite the way i would like to, but I'm working on it.", she informs him.

"Well, from what I hear, we don't need Strange after all.", Fury comments.

"We do need him. Ivar made a replica of the sword of Time and buried it somewhere. In order for my sword to work, we need to destroy the replica. Ivar is too strong for us now. The sword is probably gone by now so we need to go back in the past to destroy the replica before he can bury it. That's the short version.", Evie tells him.

"Is Strange open to that?", Fury asks.

Thor nods, "He is."

Fury looks back at Evie, "How do you feel about all of this?"

"It is what it is. It's not like I can change who I am.", Evie looks at her feet.

"But if you could, would you?", Dumbledore breaks his silence and Evie looks at him but doesn't answer the question.

"Magical items work on a very simple level. Simple for them but sometimes hard for us. If you would change who you are, the sword can probably feel that and will reject you as long as you keep rejecting yourself. By accepting your destiny and the truth you have discovered, you will accept yourself for who you truly are. You are not a part of the sword but the sword is a part of you.", he explains.

"I understand you need time and I would like to give it to you, but this situation needs work under pressure. Time is not something we have.", Fury tells her.

"I... will do my best.", Evie tells, forcing a smile.

"That's not what I want. I want you to do the work, not your best.", Fury continues.

"I don't think pressuring her is the solution.", Thor speaks, looking at Evie.

"Ivar is pressuring us so I don't have an option.", Fury comments.

"I will do the job. I promise.", Evie tells Fury and he nods.

"Well, are we ready to leave? The Order is waiting.", Dumbledore asks, standing up.

"Sure.", Thor tells and we all rise up from our seats.

"One more thing, Evelyn.", Fury speaks and she looks at him.

"Give Tony a call. You've kept him on thin ice long enough.", he says and she nods.

"You go ahead and I will join you.", I say to Evie and she frowns, "You're not coming with us?"

"I have some business to attend prior.", I say, not wanting to go into details in front of Fury.

She nods, understanding my secrecy.

They leave and I stand into the fireplace, "Dragon alley."

Lucius and Narcissa have had their doubts about me but this time they sounded more... certain in their claims. For Evelyn to safely prepare herself, I need to clear whatever they want me to clear. I reach our meeting place and knock three times. An old elf opens the door, guiding me into the large room where Lucius and Narcissa are joined by Bellatrix.

"I hope your urgent meeting has firm grounds.", I say, immediately cutting to the subject.

"Good evening Severus.", Narcissa greets politely and I nod in return.

"We heard some rumors, Severus.", Bellatrix speaks, walking slowly towards me.

I can tell by her smiling face that she can't wait to blame whatever it is they think they have on me. We never shared a pleasant relationship.

"Rumors?", I ask.

"Rumors of a certain... romantic relationship.", Lucius tells me.

Oh no.

"I have difficulty to understand where this is going.", I say, trying to sound uninterested.

"Draco told us that you and the girl are... close.", Bellatrix says, circling around me like a vulture.

"A little too close.", she continues.

"The new professor. The girl Ivar protects so passionately.", Lucius tells.

Obviously some new informations has reached them but questioning it would just make me more suspicious, so I decide to leave that wasp nest alone.

"Dumbledores orders. Besides, I feel more comfortable keeping my enemies close.", I say casually.

"Are you telling us that Draco is lying?", Bellatrix asks, now facing me.

"You told me that he heard rumors. Did he made them up? Because, if he did, then yes, you should have a word with him.", I say, knowing that my statement isn't the safest one to make but I don't have much of a choice.

"No, he just heard them.", Narcissa tells me.

"Then I don't see a problem, Bellatrix.", I say, looking at her.

"What he did see, is she leaving your room early in the morning.", Lucius informs me.

"I'm suppose to give her potions every three days, for protection.", I say.

"Potions don't work on muggles.", Bellatrix whispers.

"Well then have a conversation with Dumbledore about that", I whisper back.

No one says a word. Lucius is too much of a coward to challenge me directly in any way. Narcissas only concern is Draco and his safety while Bellatrix would attack more firmly, but she knows Voldemort wouldn't be happy with that.

"I've proven my loyalty in every way possible so I'm not fond of this... interrogations based on childish rumors.", I say, looking at Lucius.

"We had to make sure everything was regular.", he speaks.

"Was that order given to you?", I ask, looking at him.

"Then my time here is finished.", I say, turning around and leaving the old house.

If there are rumors, and Draco is obviously instructed in some way to keep an eye on me, this could get dangerous for everyone.