CHAPTER 25

Decisions Of The Paranoid

Severus was rushing up to the Headmaster's office just as soon as he could get himself to start thinking rationally.

He gave the password to the gargoyle, rushed up the stairs when it sprang aside and began banging Dumbledore's door with his fist.

There was no answer.

Frustrated, he kept on pounding until he heard a surprised, "Severus!"

He turned around and found Dumbledore looking up at him, then the Headmaster cleared his throat and said, "You don't expect me to be in this stuffy old place at all times of the day, do you?... I'm an old man, Severus, I need breakfast to keep up my-"

"Have you seen the papers?" Severus interrupted him.

"Oh yes! Sally Jones did indeed always have a gift-"

"No! I meant his escapade! Pettigrew's escaped! He was helped by Death Eaters! These people don't do you a favour unless -"

"Severus," Dumbledore said firmly. "Let's continue this in my office."

They entered the office and took their seats at the table.

"I know what the consequences are." Dumbledore began. "I also am aware of the position it puts us all in... Are you willing to do this?"

"Of course." Severus said unhesitatingly.

"If need be, are you willing to keep aside your family for this war?" Dumbledore asked gravely.

With a heavy heart, Severus replied, "Yes."

"Do you know that you may never see them again?"

"Yes, Headmaster."

"Are you sure you are willing to break ties with your family if need be?"

"Yes, Headmaster. It's for their own safety." Severus's voice cracked under the strain he was labouring.

"Do you know that you could die."

"Of course, Headmaster. I have no qualms about dying."

"They will grieve."

"It won't hurt them."

"Do you know that they could fall into dangerous hands?"

"No!" Severus yelled. "They will not! I won't let them!"

"Do you know that they could dis-"

"NO!" Severus shouted out aloud. "They won't! They will be safe. I will not repeat the same mistake twice! I will die before I let anything happen to them! Voldemort will not get his hands on my charges! He will not come close to my family!"

This was followed by a loud silence, where in Dumbledore looked on at Severus with undisguised admiration and Severus was breathing harshly, trying to calm his nerves and raise up his Occlumency shields. He realised just then how dangerous a position he'd put the the Evans' and the residents of Privet Drive... Severus wanted to regret it all, but in his heart he couldn't. He knew he'd made a mistake, taken the rash decision of opening his heart to those triplets. But he couldn't find it in himself to regret it. And now there wasn't anything anyone could do but keep mum.

Dumbledore finally said, "Severus, I am not going to beat around the bush with placating consolations...I think it's time you sought out Lucius Malfoy... to keep an eye on him as well as to let him keep an eye on you...

"If I'm correct, I believe he was in charge of this escapade. You will demand the reason he didn't involve you in the escapade and slowly try to readmit yourself into the ranks... If he denies and you find that he's telling the truth, you will team up with him and find out who was responsible for this... then try to get into their confidence.

"If you realise that the procedure may result in you getting hurt, leave it all and portkey to Hogwarts and we'll find some other way to go about with things...You know, I think I can make your life easier. Occasionally, I will send you trivial instructions that need to be followed immediately, you could read them aloud and casually state that I'm getting suspicious and that it would be better if you didn't return for a bit lest you're being followed. Tell them to come up with some sort of coded correspondence if the matter is urgent.

"In the mean time, I will try to find that remaining Horcrux...Severus, we could all be paranoid, Peter may simply be running out of the country in order to safe his own skin. This entire thing could be a false alarm, but one mustn't be too-"

He was interrupted by a knock.

"Come in!" Dumbledore called out.

The door opened and in came Black and Lupin, both looking like they had seen a ghost...nah, that wasn't a good description... there were ghosts all over the castle...they looked like they'd seen Voldemort.

Dumbledore said calmly, "Yes, Sirius, Remus."

"Headmaster," Lupin said, "There was this thought that just struck me about Peter...that he could currently be on his way searching for Lord Voldemort...er, I know it's quite a far-fetched theory-"

"I know, Remus." Dumbledore said. "Come in and sit down both of you... You see, Severus and I have already been discussing about that and we've laid down certain plans. But if you are ready to play your role in this war, I think you two could help us immensely..."

"If it's all the same to you, Dumbledore" Severus interrupted. "I'd better get started with my classes. I'll do what you've asked me to do this evening."

"I think it should be done immediately, Severus."

Severus lifted an eyebrow and said, "And get the great Albus Dumbledore suspicious on the very first day?"

"That would be beneficial." Dumbledore said.

Severus scowled and swished his wand in the air and he a piece of parchment appeared in Dumbledore's hands.

"This," Severus said, "Is my schedule for class today...I let you keep up to it until I get back?"

"Of course." Dumbledore said affably. "It's been a long time since I've taught."

Severus decided to remain quiet about the exploding cauldrons and let Dumbledore figure them out for himself. He huffed and flooed straight to his quarters. From there, he floo called the Malfoy Manor.

"Lucius!" Severus shouted out aloud. "Lucius!"

A thin and old elf popped up in front of his face.

"Master Malfoy be's out of town today, Master Snapey Sir!" it said in a weak voice.

Severus made an impatient sound and said, "When will he return, elf?"

"The evening, Sir." the elf replied.

Severus scowled and said, "Then when he returns tell him that I called and that I will call again in the evening after I'm done with my classes."

Then as he withdrew, he made a show of grumbling to himself about how cautious Dumbledore had already become. Once back in his office, Severus wrote down a message on a piece of parchment and sent it off to appear directly in front of Dumbledore and he began with his classes.

And as he was seated at his desk in his classroom, letting his mind size up the entire situation, Severus felt every fact falling down on him with an impact, every impact reminding him exactly what was at stake. But was he afraid about his plight? No.

His day went on at a snail's pace and before long, he found himself outside Lucius Malfoy's door. All it took was one knock before the door was opened by the old elf.

"Master Malfoy bes in the living room. Master Malfoy awaits Professor Snapey Sir."

Severus walked in without acknowledging the elf.

He found Lucius sitting in an armchair, looking extremely snug. He stood up when Severus entered and they shook hands.

"It's been a long time." Lucius said. "Dumbledore's suspicious?"

"You don't know half of it." Severus grumbled as he sat in the chair Lucius indicated. The elf appeared with a teapot, a jug of milk, a container of sugar, two teaspoons and two cups. Severus watched as Lucius manually made himself a cup of tea. Severus wondered if he was afraid he'd lose this elf too if he asked it to do more than what was basically necessary.

"You escaped under his watch." Lucius said.

Severus scowled, "I'm on my way to buy some ingredients for potions. Dumbledore doesn't know I'm here."

Lucius simply stared at him for a long moment. Then he said, "Then why are you here?"

"I have a bone to pick with you, actually."

Malfoy sipped his tea and lifted his eyebrow in silent question.

"Why wasn't I informed about the attack?"

"Attack?"

"The ambush that took those Aurors down and set Pettigrew free?"

"Severus, Severus...You know, Dumbledore is watching your every move."

"I could have made an excuse about wanting to see the trial!...I would have killed so many more of those blasted pests!"

"The Aurors, you mean?"

"They're pests!...Was Moody there?"

"No, I don't think so...Have a cup?"

Severus shook his head.

"Weren't you there?" Severus persisted.

"Of course, I was." Lucius snapped. "I masterminded the entire thing."

"Then why wasn't I informed?" Severus snapped.

"We're going around in circles." Malfoy complained then he sat up straight. "Clarify one thing for me, Severus...Wait, I need to know the... Wait a moment, if you will, please."

As soon as Malfoy left the room, Severus opened a magically sealed, but easily accessible secret pocket in his robes and pulled out a tiny capsule, that he'd previously prepared, containing the antidote to Veritaserum. He placed the capsule under his tongue and waited in silence.

Lucius Malfoy returned with a glass vial and Severus immediately recognised the liquid it contained.

"Do you know what this is, Severus?" Lucius asked.

"Veritaserum." Severus said, simply. "Do you want to test me?"

Lucius Malfoy nodded solemnly. Severus took the vial with an imperious attitude, opened it, sniffed it and tipped three drops, one at a time onto his tongue. And a little before the third drop fell into his mouth, he crushed the capsule between her his tongue and his lower teeth and swallowed it along with the third drop.

Immediately, Severus let the vial drop from his hands and crash to pieces onto the floor, and put on a glazed expression and slumped down in his chair.

Lucius looked on gleefully and rubbed his hands and said, "Oh Severus, how many would love to have you in this state. So, tell me, with whom do your loyalties lie?"

"With the Dark Lord." Severus said in a painstaking monotone, his back already aching from its position.

"Oh really?" Lucius commented. "What is your name?"

"Severus Tobias Snape."

"How old are you?"

"Thirty-four years."

"What did James Potter do to you after your final OWL test?"

"He leviated me in the air, upside-down, on the school grounds."

"And he embarrassed you, didn't he?"

"Yes, he embarrassed me." Severus said expressionlessly, though inwardly, he was seething.

"Ah, I see that the potion is finally working, so Severus, on whose side are you on, Dumbledore's or the Dark Lord?"

"The Dark Lord."

Lucius tittered and said, "Why did you come here?"

"I wanted to know why you didn't involve me in last night's mission."

"I didn't know whether you could be trusted." Malfoy said mockingly. "Can you really be trusted Severus?"

"Yes."

"Who do you trust the most, Severus?"

"The Dark Lord."

"Then why didn't you go to find him?"

"He assigned me to watch Dumbledore and I followed his orders."

"Does Dumbledore trust you?"

"Yes."

"And does he suspect that Pettigrew has gone in search of the Dark Lord?"

"Yes, he suspects it."

"Did he say anything to you?"

"He wants me to be a spy for the Order of the Phoenix when the time comes."

"Will you spy for him?"

"No."

"What will you do?"

"Whatever the Dark Lord tells me to."

"Do you trust me, Severus?"

"No."

"Too bad, but I think that you are trustworthy enough."

"What is your relationship with the Potter children."

Severus chose his words carefully, "I have no relationship with them. I hate them. I hate the ground they walk on."

"Why?"

"They brought about the downfall of the Dark Lord."

"Oh... And what is your relationship with my son?"

"I don't have a relationship with him."

"Don't you hate him?"

"No."

"Do you like him?"

"No."

"Alright. What is your relationship with my wife?"

"I have no relationship with her."

"Do you like her?"

"No."

"And you don't hate her either, I suppose?"

"No."

"That's nice." Malfoy said dryly. "Do you like teaching?"

"No."

"Why do you teach?"

"To keep an eye on Dumbledore."

"Hmmmm...Will you help in anyway to bring our Lord back to power?"

"Of course."

Lucius opened Severus's mouth and poured in the antidote, that wouldn't have any effect on him. Slowly, Severus pretended to become aware of his surroundings and when his eyes fell on Lucius.

"Did I pass?" he asked sarcastically.

"With flying colours." Malfoy replied with a laugh. "Though you will have to prepare for me a bottle of Veritaserum to compensate for the one you broke."

"I'm not making it." Severus said.

"Why not?"

"One, I don't want Dumbledore suddenly entering my lab and getting suspicious, and two, it's your own fault the bottle broke. You should never hand over a full vial to the person you wish to drug."

Lucius nodded thoughtfully and said, "You need to go shopping now, don't you?"

Severus nodded.

"Alright. Tell you what, I'm telling the boys that we've recruited you, and you are already on the job, filing up information for the Dark Lord on his return-"

"You seemed to have learnt a lot." Severus said dryly, but Malfoy ignored him and went on.

"- that you won't be available. However, if we wish to contact you, we will post a letter to you that to anyone else Will seem to be a potions order from an old friend Rosalind Leti. Now run along Severus and finish your shopping."

Severus didn't bother shaking hands with Lucius. He found his way to the gates of the Manor and disapperated to the Leaky Cauldron for a steaming cup of strong coffee. Excess on the antidote tends to make the consumer drowsy.

When he was done, Severus paid a visit to the Apothecary and disapperated to his home at Spinner's End and flooed directly to Dumbledore's office and found it empty. Severus conjured a small paper weight and inscribed the word 'Successful' in bold and he underlined the 'ss' in the word and then flooed back to Spinner's End.

He then made himself invisible and walked it out to the Evans' home. They weren't around either, so Severus disapperated to Privet Drive and knocked on the back door. No one answered. Now, feeling a slightly uneasy, Severus opened the door and walked in to ominous silence.

"Hello?" he said and was rewarded by a relieved, "Severus!"

He followed the sound to the living room only to find the Evans', Petunia, Dudley and Narcissa quietly sitting in the living room.

"What's wrong?" Severus asked making himself visible again.

Narcissa said, "Dumbledore sent us a letter informing us that he would visit with a couple of friends once you came home."

"Couple of friends, eh?" Severus said with narrowed eyes, a clear picture in mind.

"What do you know of it?" Mr. Evans asked.

Severus settled down in a chair and said, "Do you know about that murderer who escaped Azkaban last year?"

"Oh yes." Petunia said. "The Daily Prophet showed that he was declared innocent and the actual murderer was caught and given a trial but he escaped."

"Exactly." Severus said. "And our best guess is that Peter Pettigrew, that is the actual murderer, is now trying to find a way to bring back Lord Voldemort."

"Oh my!" Mrs Evans exclaimed. "That's terrible! What's going to happen to the children? What's going to happen yo you?"

"I will be perfectly safe, Mrs Evans." Severus said. "But as you know, I work as a spy, so there may come a time where you won't be seeing much of me. But I will be absolutely fine. The triplets, Neville and Draco on the other hand will be safe provided they do as they're told. As long as they stay in this house or in the castle of Hogwarts they will be fine.

"The same goes to you and Mr. Evans. I would like it if you two packed up your important things from your house and camped in here for a year or two until this mess is cleared, if you don't mind, Petunia, Dudley, Narcissa?"

"Oh, we don't mind." Petunia said immediately. "But won't we get tired of staying indoors all day?"

"That cannot be helped." Severus admitted apologetically."Um... Perhaps it would help if I gave each of you an invisible and protective cloak to put around yourselves as you left the house only for an absolutely genuine reason?"

"It might." Mr. Evans said looking absolutely unhappy at the prospect of leaving his home in Cokeworth . "What makes you think that this entire episode shall end in a year or two?"

"Oh, nothing." Severus said quietly. "It may even take five, but it shall end. I will make sure of that."

"And what about the triplets?" Narcissa said.

"What about them?"

"They'll be his first targets, Severus!"

"They may be, Narcissa." Severus said firmly, "But he shan't harm them."

"Will I get to attend school?" Dudley asked.

"Of course." Severus said. "Nothing will stop your education. Tell you what?..." Severus put his hand into his pocket and pulled out a plain watch. "...Take off that old one and put this on."

Dudley did as he was asked and the moment it was strapped around his wrist, it shimmered gold and turned silver again.

"This watch," Severus said, "Is a portkey. Not that you will be needing it... Actually, I think you all are perfectly safe with those charms I placed on you last year, but a little extra precaution won't hurt... Dudley, flick the dial of this watch and this portkey shall take you to your school gate and bring you back home in the evening, after your school's done. That will prevent you from walking into the hands of any kinds of danger."

"Wicked!" Dudley exclaimed.

"I think," Mrs. Evans said, "Pat and I too will stay at our own homes."

"What!?" Severus exclaimed dismayed. "But you'll be safe here!"

"We would." Mrs. Evans said slowly. "But you've placed the same spells on us that you've placed on Dudley. I really don't see how anyone could even come close to us."

Mr. Evans said, "Darrell's right, Sev. And besides, I'm sure Dobby would safely bring us anything we require."

Mrs. Evans said placatingly, "That house in Cokeworth is our home, Severus. We can't simply be uprooted from there and leave it to the fate of who-knows-what!"

"You hadn't lived there for months after your accident!" Severus argued.

"We weren't very conscious about our thoughts then, Severus." Mrs. Evans said. "I have full faith in you and your spellwork, darling. We'll visit this place often, but I sure would like to live at Cokeworth."

Severus sighed and finally conceded, knowing that he'd already lost that battle.

He remained in a thoughtful silence for a moment and then, he said, "Right, back to my previous point... Suppose Dumbledore shows up now with a few people he wants to place in a safe place, that is, this home, would you allow it, Petunia?"

"Are they on your side?" Petunia asked

"Let's say, we are working on the same side."

"But you aren't in good books?" Mr. Evans said shrewdly.

"You could say that." Severus said grimly.

"Then we won't have them." Petunia said firmly.

But Severus knew that in a war, petty rivalry could have fatal implications. So he cleared and said, "But I'm willing to put aside my grudge, for the sake of the forthcoming crisis and I wouldn't be spending the night here at all...so..."

"Are they good company." Petunia asked.

Severus shook his head and said, "They could cause chaos when let loose in a house, but I think if instructed they'd stick to their room."

"Room!" Petunia exclaimed. "We don't have more rooms! The guest one's occupied by Mum and Dad and I doubt the triplets and Neville would appreciate it if their things were messed around with."

"They could sleep on mats here in the living room." Severus said with feeling. "They can't expect to-"

He was interrupted by a loud knock on the door. Severus put his finger to his lips asking them to remain quiet and let him do the talking. Then he walked up to the door and opened it. Outside stood the three people he had expected: Dumbledore, Black and Lupin.

"Yes?" Severus asked in a bored tone.

"Severus." Dumbledore said cordially. "Wouldn't you invite us in?"

Severus stood aside without a word and Dumbledore, Black and Lupin entered. At first, Severus didn't recognise Black. The man had cleaned himself up and Poppy Pomfrey's medications certainly did wonders and Severus was certain that if Dumbledore's convincing somehow failed to move Petunia, Sirius Black would.

Severus offered a chair to the headmaster to sit on and was debating on how to offer the other two without injuring his pride when Narcissa got up from her seat and approached Black slowly.

"Sirius." she said.

"Cissy." he replied, his voice still croaking.

They stared at each other for a moment or two and then they were in each other's arms and they remained like that for another moment, saying nothing.

When they pulled away, Narcissa said, "I'm so sorry."

"Don't be." Black said gently. "It wasn't your fault. I was stupid."

Narcissa gave a small laugh and turned to Petunia, her parents and Dudley and said, "This is my cousin, Sirius Black, the last living heir of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black."

Black gasped suddenly and said, "I've found it! I've found the perfect place! Why didn't I think of it before!"

"What place?" Lupin asked.

"The place for the Order meetings! Number twelve, Grimmauld Place in London! That's the House of Black...and since I'm the last heir of that place, I'm willing to offer it for Order Business!"

"Ah-hah!" Severus exclaimed. "And here I thought you two were searching for a place to lie low! Dumbledore this place is a home and a safe haven to several people! If you think you are going to use this place as a meeting spot, you could just head out of that door and forget about the entire thing!"

"Sirius!" Narcissa exclaimed before Dumbledore could speak. "That place is probably infested with dark magic and creatures! How could you possibly-"

"We'll have to clean it up." Black declared. "My father warded up the place excellently and though he and I never got along, I can safely vouch for him when it comes to that. He had a gift when it comes to warding...the place will have to be checked for pests...and dark magic." Then he added rather sullenly, "I'm not setting a foot in there though."

"Why not?" Severus asked with scorn.

"Severus," Dumbledore said, reproachfully, "why don't you like to set foot in your house at Spinner's End?"

"What do you mean by that?" Severus said indignantly. "If I'm not at Hogwarts or here or even running errands for you, I'm at Spinner's End!"

"You are?" Dumbledore said incredulously.

"Of course!"

"How can you bear to enter that place all of a sudden?"

"I've renovated it myself." Severus said, trying but failing to suppress the pride he felt from showing. "Except for the walls, there's nothing in there that reminds me of the old house."

"I think I'll try the renovation too." Black said hesitatingly. "You'll help me, Cissy, won't you?"

"Certainly!" Narcissa said happily. "We could get Andy to lend in a hand too."

"Andy!" Black exclaimed. "I've got to-"

"Maybe," Severus interrupted cooly, "we could make introductions, lay out plans and get this meeting over with... Albus, Black, Lupin, this is Petunia Evans, her son Dudley and her parents, Patrick and Darrell Evans."

"They're alive!" Lupin gasped. "Lily had said that they had died in a car crash!"

At the same time, Black said, "What happened to that Dursley bloke?"

Severus closed his eyes for a moment, praying for patience. Then finally choosing whom to answer and whom to ignore, he said in a very controlled voice, "There was a misunderstanding...something that I wouldn't want to get into, but as it turned out, the Evans' were in a coma and we thought them dead, and when they came to, they thought us dead. We reunited again in nineteen ninety one, and we've been keeping in contact ever since.

"Now, Mr. and Mrs. Evans, Petunia and Dudley, this is Sirius Black and Remus Lupin and Albus Dumbledore. They-"

Severus was interrupted by the ringing of the doorbell.

He sighed and moved towards the door and opened it and outside stood a very pale and worried Andromeda Tonks.

"Come in." he said wearily and she flashed him a smile and entered the house. Her eyes fell on Narcissa immediately and she began to say, "Cissy, did you read today's paper? Sirius's innocent! I couldn't visit you earlier today, for I had both morning and afternoon shifts at Mungo's. Do you want to help me find him? I just wanted to say sorry for not having more faith in him and believing him to be the traitor. I should have know better. I feel so terribly guilty and-"

"Think nothing of it." Black said aloud and Andy looked up and saw him...and Severus sighed again...this was going to be a long meeting. Severus wondered if they were really all getting paranoid, whether this entire episode would simply fizzle out... however, it all were true, it would be best if they were prepared before the enemy did.

Now, after the tearful reunion and a lot of arguments, it was decided that Black and Lupin would camp out at the Potter home in Godric's Hollow and every morning from that day on, they and Narcissa and Andromeda would apparate to Grimmauld Place to clear out as much as they could.

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Neville had just finished his transfiguration lesson with McGonagall and was wearily making his way to the Great Hall for lunch. It was almost a week before their exams and the teachers were already increasing the pressure with revisions and little tests. And the night before last, Harry had them all excited about a Quidditch World Cup that would be held the next summer. So Neville was absolutely exhausted.

"Ethan, Harry, Neville, Draco! Come to Prof's office for a moment. I want to show you something."

Neville, having already reached the door to the Great Hall, sighed and changed direction.

Once he entered the office, he saw Prof, Draco, Harry and Ethan looking expectantly at Blaire. She said, "Now, that you're all here, I'll just tell you that I achieved this almost a month ago, but I wanted to learn to fly before I told anyone."

"Fly?" Prof said surprised. "But you're very good on the broom already!"

Blaire chuckled and shook her head and then she closed her eyes transformed before their eyes ...into a black bird with a black beak and a long tail...her feathers were white at the belly and on the wings and the black feathers seemed to have a slight green tint. Her tail made her almost twice the size of Sly.

Blaire, or rather Woody, as her animagus form would be called later on, flew gracefully around the room before perching on the handle Prof's chair. Prof chuckled and held out his hand onto which she jumped and he stroked her feathers.

"Magpie, eh?"

She let out a little tune and took off, flew over the boys heads and finally transformed, landing gracefully on her feet. Prof put both his hands on the table and smiled.

"Two down, three to go." he said, then he turned serious, "And if you can, I'd wish if you could all become animagi soon... There's danger lurking around and I would rest assured if I knew there was another way you could escape an attack and prevent the enemies from recognising you at the same time."

"What danger, Prof?" Draco asked.

Prof shook his head and said, "I'm not quite ready to give you an accurate answer yet...Come, let's go for lunch."

tbc...