After sitting in silence for several minutes Freddie got up to get dressed with a frustrated groan. She gathered her discarded work robes and took them upstairs to find something else to wear. She passed Ziggy on the stairs and the kneazle followed her into their bedroom.

"Why now?" She grumbled aloud. "The bloody Dark Lord, He couldn't have waited five more minutes before calling them? It's the middle of the night!"

Ziggy meowed at her as she dropped her dirty clothes into a heap and kicked them into a corner. Normally she'd clean them with her wand and fold them before putting them in her bag for tomorrow, but she was too upset. She distractedly pulled clothes out the dresser and ended up putting on black shorts and a t-shirt before heading back downstairs.

Ziggy sat on the couch watching her as she paced back and forth in front of the fireplace. She was annoyed and frustrated, but more than anything she was worried. She really hated not knowing what Snape was doing, how long he would be gone, or if he was alright.

"I hate this," she said, finally flopping back down on the couch beside her kneazle. "I hate not knowing. But I know what he's doing is important and I have to trust him. Trust that he'll be okay. He knows how to take care of himself, he's been doing it for years after all." Ziggy meowed at her, which she took to mean that he agreed. "I just can't help but worry."

The red-furred kneazle walked over and laid down in her lap, purring softly as if to reassure her. She stroked his fur absently and sighed. She wondered at Snape sending his Patronus to Dumbledore before he left. Hogwarts was so far away, could a Patronus really travel that far? She'd read a lot about the Patronus Charm when she was learning to conjure one but she'd never heard of it being used like that.

Midnight came and went but Snape still had not returned. When her watch beeped a few minutes before that Freddie Disapparated to her office at St Mungo's to add more wolfsbane to her cauldron. She was only gone for a minute, but part of her had still hoped he would be home when she got back. But of course he wasn't. She pulled a book off the shelf at random and lay on the couch to read, hoping to distract herself. Sometime during the early morning hours, somehow, she drifted off to sleep with the book still in her hand.

Freddie didn't realize she had fallen asleep and so she didn't know how long she had been sleeping when something woke her up. She was confused and disoriented at first, unsure where she was. As her vision cleared she recognized the sitting room at Spinner's End and realized she could hear voices coming from the direction of the kitchen.

"-the rest of the Prophecy from 15 years ago," Snape's voice was saying quietly. "He believes it will help Him achieve His goals."

"I see," said a voice that Freddie realized with a jolt was Dumbledore's. "Does He know where it is?"

What's Dumbledore doing in our house? She wondered.

"He is aware of the Hall of Prophecy," Snape confirmed. "And with people like Lucius on His side and Fudge's head still buried firmly in the sand, it's only a matter of time before-" He stopped speaking abruptly and Freddie raised her head, straining to listen. She felt Snape's presence prickle at the edge of her consciousness before he spoke aloud. "Winifred is awake."

"Oh?" said Dumbledore's voice interestedly and a moment later the two men came out of the kitchen into the sitting room. Freddie flushed, knowing there was no point in pretending to be asleep.

"Is everything alright?" she asked as she sat up on the couch.

"Perfectly alright," Dumbledore said cheerily and Snape slid him a dark look that the headmaster seemed to wave off. "Actually, Severus, I think this could be an excellent opportunity for us."

"An opportunity for what?" Snape asked, his brow furrowed.

"I'm going to call an Order meeting as soon as possible. As soon as I can confirm a date and time, I'll send you the location. Miss Gray, I would like you to attend too."

"Of course, headmaster," she said, surprised.

"Are there any dates this week that would be inconvenient for you? I know you work 12 hour shifts most days, from 7 to 7. I can schedule the meeting for the evening if that would be more convenient for you?"

"Oh, uh," Freddie stammered, surprised that Dumbledore knew her work schedule. "That's fine. Or, anytime is fine really. Master Hawkins is really lenient when it comes to my hours, especially since I usually end up coming into work on my days off anyway."

"Excellent," Dumbledore said, pleased. "Severus, do you have any outstanding obligations this week?"

"No, headmaster," Snape said, scowling.

"Very well. Anything else to report?"

"No, headmaster," he said, his eyes flickering quickly to Freddie.

"Then enjoy the rest of your evening. I'll let you know something soon," Dumbledore promised, then Disapparated with a pop.

Snape was still scowling as he sat down on the couch and he had been ever since Dumbledore said he wanted Freddie at the Order meeting.

"If you keep making that face it's going to get stuck like that," she teased lightly, moving closer to him on the couch. When he didn't acknowledge her she put her arms around him and laid her head on his shoulder. "Are you okay?"

"Fine," he answered. "Tired."

He does look tired, Freddie thought and glanced at her watch. It was almost 2 a.m.

"Do you want to go up to bed?" she suggested and Snape nodded silently.

Freddie followed Snape upstairs and watched as he took his shoes off and got ready for bed. She was relieved to see he didn't seem to be in pain this time. No Cruciatus Curse tonight I suppose. Thank goodness, she thought as she crawled into bed next to him. I wonder what the whole Prophecy thing is about?

"What were you and Dumbledore talking about?" she asked curiously, wondering if he were allowed to tell her.

"I can't tell you that, Winifred. It's up to Albus to decide how much to share with the rest of the Order. I can only do my part and make my reports to him."

"Okay," she said agreeably. She figured she would find out more at the Order meeting, whenever that would be. As soon as Dumbledore could arrange it.

"Did you tend to your potion at midnight?" Snape asked. Even his voice sounded tired.

"Of course."

"That's good," he said, putting his arms around her and drawing her close. He kissed her forehead and sighed. "I'm sorry about tonight."

"It's okay," she assured him. "I'm just glad you're alright."

"You should get some sleep," he said, resting his chin on top of her head. "You'll have to be up again soon."

"I know," she said and tried to suppress a yawn. "I'll try not to wake you when I get up. Goodnight, Severus."

"Goodnight, Winifred."