The meeting ended pretty quickly after that. As Dumbledore stood up from the table he addressed the room one last time.

"Does anyone have anything else to report while we're all still here?" he asked, looking around the table. "Bill, any luck with the goblins?"

"I'm working on it, sir, but they're slow to trust humans," the oldest Weasley child answered. "I've tried to determine their opinions on You-Know-Who's return but so far they won't even talk to me about it. It's going to take some time."

"Understood. Remus?"

"The few werewolves I've been able to locate don't want to get involved. I'm not sure they believe Voldemort's back but of course they don't trust the Ministry either," Lupin said. "If I continue to play on that distrust I'm hoping I can sway them to our side. I did hear there was a wizard asking around about Fenrir Greyback."

"That's not good," Dumbledore said darkly. "Did you get a description of the man who was looking for Greyback?"

"Tall, blonde hair that he wore in a braid down his back," Lupin provided. "And one of the she-wolves said he had a cruel smile."

"Sounds like Corban Yaxley," Snape said softly, his face expressionless. Dumbledore nodded in agreement.

"I know we have no hope of turning Greyback," Dumbledore said heavily. "But perhaps if you are able to locate him first you might find some of his followers who are more sympathetic to our cause."

"He tends to kill those who don't agree with him or drive them out," Lupin said, his expression grim. "It will be dangerous, but I'll try my best."

"I know you will, Remus. Thank you. Kingsley?"

"Amelia Bones has officially replaced Crouch as the Head of Magical Law Enforcement," Kingsley replied in his deep voice. "She agreed to place me in charge of the hunt for Sirius. Tomorrow I'll report that I received an anonymous tip that Sirius was spotted in Tibet."

"I wish I was in Tibet," Black muttered darkly and Lupin elbowed him make him be quiet.

"Excellent work, Kingsley. We're lucky to have you on our side. Has Amelia given any indication to which side she's on?" Dumbledore asked, ignoring Black's attitude.

"I'm not certain yet. She seems frustrated with some of Fudge's decisions lately but, like most people, she's too afraid to voice them. Anyone at the Ministry who has outright agreed with you has found themselves out of a job."

"Find out her position if you can, but be careful. It would be nice to have the Head of Magical Law Enforcement on our side, but not at the expense of your job."

The headmaster asked a few more questions around the table, but no one else seemed to have anything to report. Finally, Snape spoke up again.

"The Dark Lord has dispatched an envoy to the giants," he said silkily. "He sent Macnair and two others."

"Hagrid and Madame Maxime left last week," the headmaster said with a nod.

"Fudge had an Auror tailing them," Kingsley said. "But he lost them around Dijon."

"Excellent. Anything else?" Dumbledore asked, looking around. "...Alright then. Thank you for coming everyone. I'll be in touch."

Dumbledore left the room and the Order members started talking among themselves again as they pushed back from the table.

"Anyone who wants to is welcome to stay for dinner," Mrs Weasley called over the noise but most everyone was already making their way into the hall.

"I need to speak with you," Snape's voice murmured in her ear as he brushed past her. She looked up but he was already walking away.

"You ready to go Freddie?" Tonks asked brightly.

"Uh, I need to go check on a potion real quick," she answered, her eyes on Snape's retreating figure, hoping that he was listening. "Can I meet you back here in just a few minutes?"

"Sure. I've got to get that invisibility cloak from Moody anyway."

Freddie tried to Disapparate but was startled when she only stumbled in place.

"Were you trying to Disapparate?" Tonks asked, amused. "You can't do it inside headquarters, you have to go out on the front step. Dumbledore set it up that way."

"Oh. Thanks. See you in a bit."

When Freddie appeared in her office she was pleased to find Snape was there waiting for her. He didn't speak at first and she could tell he seemed conflicted. She guessed he was suppressing the urge to 'be a jerk' like they'd discussed earlier. She smiled slightly to herself and checked on her Wolfsbane Potion, making sure Bennett had added the batch of herbs at 8 o'clock like she'd instructed. The herbs were gone and the potion was still stable so she must have done it right.

"Be careful," Snape said finally, his words sounding strangled. "Put a Silencing Charm on your shoes like I taught you and take your Invisibility Potion before you get there."

"I will," she promised. "Anything else?"

"Make sure the alarm on your watch is silenced. Report to Dumbledore if you notice anything suspicious. You can send your Patronus to either of us if you need help. Do not approach anyone, no matter who you think they are, especially if you think they're Death Eaters," he said quietly.

"How can I tell if someone is under an Imperius Curse?" she asked, remembering what Dumbledore had said.

"Sometimes they will have a blank expression, milky eyes, or be walking sluggishly. With a well-cast Imperius Curse it is impossible to tell just by looking at someone. You'd have to delve into their mind with Legilimency and if their mind feels...off...then you have reason to suspect they've been Imperiused."

"Off how?" she wanted to know.

"Like...overly peaceful or happy," he tried to explain. "Like when you take a Pain-relieving Potion."

"Okay. You really should teach me how to resist an Imperius Curse someday."

"I will. Soon."

"I should go, I don't want to keep Tonks waiting."

"Wait," he said and pulled her to him for a kiss. "I am...proud of you." He hesitated, seeming to struggle with the words. "I know I don't say that enough. I know I can be stubborn...overprotective...angry..."

"A jerk?" Freddie teased lightly and he smiled faintly down at her. "It's okay, Severus. I love you anyway."

"I love you too," he murmured and kissed her forehead. "Joining the Order...it's a very brave thing for you to do."

"Not as brave as what you do."

"You're brave for staying with me. Even after I tried to send you away when I first felt the Dark Mark burn."

"The Dark Lord himself couldn't drag me away from you," she told him stubbornly. She didn't miss the look of worry that flashed through his eyes, She stood on her tiptoes to kiss him once more. "I have to go, Severus. Tonks is waiting for me."

"Good luck, Winifred. Good luck and be careful."