Iuga Sortis III: The Beginning

Three

He collapsed in the chair heavily, hoping the confined easy chair would still his trembling body. He gripped the arms of the chair tightly and thought it shook from the force of his hold. Tonight had been disturbing, and he almost hadn't made it out alive.

It was getting too close for comfort, and he needed out.

He sighed and ran a hand over his face. He was getting too old for this . . his heart couldn't take it--even if he was only thirty-seven years old. The mental stress he endured during every meeting was enough to drive him insane, and the keeping up appearances grew more tiresome with each passing gathering.

The Cruciatus Curse was particularly painful today . . considering it was a very upset Pettigrew who cast it. He was sure Lucius would've joined in . . . if he weren't subjugated to it by Voldemort himself.

The teacher and the father should've known the Great Hope of the Dark Side was actually a reincarnate god for the good.

How silly of us not to notice.

That wasn't true. He knew all along--from the moment Nia befriended Draco, he knew they'd found their Osiris. Isis and Osiris shared a bond as old as time, and Draco was never nice to anyone, let alone a new, Muggle-raised, poor American witch. But Nia knew how to pick them, and pick them well she did.

Except for the unfortunate taste of choosing Potter as a mate.

He rolled his eyes. He would have to get over his grudge at some point in his life, and if the situation between Draco and his father didn't teach him anything else, it did teach him this--the sins of the father were not necessarily the sins of the son.

If only the cliché were as easily put to use in the practical sense as it was in the figurative.

He sighed and conjured a glass of water. His throat was parched from all the screaming he did. It didn't help that every time he moved it felt as if millions of fires were going off at once. He didn't think his usual pain-relief potion would heal his sore body this time.

He cradled his forehead in his hands and closed his eyes, taking deep breaths as he decided to wait out the pain until it became bearable to walk again. So deep was his concentration he didn't register the door hissing open and closed.

"Severus."

He opened his eyes then closed them again with a groan. He didn't need this right now.

"Go away."

His guest chuckled at the gruff order, and Severus' mood grew fouler. Was the person daft?

"Do you want me to help?"

"Leave me be, Jamilah."

"Is that any way to talk to your mother-in-law?"

"Yes, especially after fourteen years being treated as crap underneath your shoe."

"Cry me a river, why don'tcha?"

Severus winced as he opened his eyes.

"Make it quick."

Jamilah huffed and glared at him. "You know, I offered to heal you. At least give me some credit."

"I don't give my students partial credit on a test. Why should I give it to you?"

"Who said this was a test?"

Severus managed a smirk despite the pain. "I did. You failed. Now leave."

Jamilah clucked her teeth and placed her hands on either side of his head. "Talqo tkas paxre."

Immediately the searing pain he felt vanished, and strength and ease appeared. He looked at Jamilah warily and sighed.

"You did all of that just to hear me say thank you . . . you evil, evil woman."

Jamilah laughed and kissed his forehead. Severus scowled but didn't wipe the place her lips met his skin.

"You always impossibly cranky when you come from them meetin's."

"Let's have two powerful, angry wizards subject you to Cruciatus, and let's see how you feel."

"Oh waah."

Severus rolled his eyes and left his seat. "Is there a purpose to this inquisition?" He conjured two teacups and a teapot. It was clear the woman wouldn't be leaving, and he figured he'd be minimally cordial to the mother of the woman he loved and the grandmother to the child he loved.

"Yes, actually." Her tone grew serious, and he frowned.

"Well?"

Jamilah sighed, and his frown deepened as he poured the tea into the cups. He knew she liked two cubes of sugar, and he filled her cup accordingly.

"It's about Draco."

"Oh?"

"How is he?"

He paused his movements as he pondered the question. How was Draco Malfoy, indeed?

He snorted. "Do you mean before or after he jeopardized our advantage by pulling the stunt he did at the Shrieking Shack?"

Jamilah sighed. "After."

He paused before replying. "Snarkier than ever. Snaps at people for no reason, one hell of a Head Boy however. He demands order and obedience."

"Sounds like someone I know," she said, giving him a pointed look.

"Once again I ask: is there a purpose to this inquisition?"

"How are Occlumency and Legilimency?"

He sighed as he turned with the two teacups, offering one to her before sitting in his armchair again. "Not as good as it could be, I'll admit. He seems overly distracted, and his thoughts always go to that Weasley girl."

"Exactly. Severus, they need to have sex."

Severus Snape did something he never thought he'd do--spat out his drink.

"What?"

The spray from his mouth was currently suspended in mid-air as Jamilah cast a disgusted eye upon it. Her palm was facing the projectiles briefly before she waved her hand, and the droplets disappeared.

"That was nasty, Severus."

"Please forgive me for the shock of hearing a professor condoning sexual relations with one of my students."

"Shucks! Ain't like I'm havin' relations with the boy!"

Severus shuddered violently at the comment.

"Ain't like he could handle me anyway . . ."

"Oh dear Merlin!"

Jamilah smirked at his reaction and looked at him smugly. "It's been a while for you, hasn't it, old boy?"

"I will not discuss that with you."

Jamilah rolled her eyes. "Whatever. You know, if you weren't so damn surly, you could find yourself a nice girl. You're too young to live as a miser."

He raised an eyebrow at her. "When was the last time you had 'relations'?"

She glared at him. "You treadin' on thin ice, boy."

"You've already slipped through."

Jamilah sucked her teeth again and crossed her arms before her. "Anyway. Regardless of what you think, he and Ginny need to do something. It's hamperin' more than helpin'."

"I can give them a potion to help them clear their lust-filled minds."

Jamilah huffed. "Ain't no damn potion gonna help diddly! They need to give into the urge, Severus. Kinda like you did with my daughter . . ."

This time he merely choked on his tea instead of spitting it out. "Jamilah!"

She rolled her eyes. "Oh please, boy! Don't Jamilah me! I ain't that old, and I'm definitely not crazy. Like I ain't know you was my baby's first."

This line of conversation was worse than any Cruciatus Curse he could endure. "Old woman, why are you discussing this with me?"

The teacup he held became impossibly hot, and he dropped it quickly, the liquid leaving a stain on his carpet.

"Don't call me old!"

Severus rolled his eyes as he magicked the stain out of his carpet. "Forgive me for repeating myself, but why are we talking about this?"

She sighed and sobered. "It's going to start soon--the war. They need to be prepared. I fully expect the first curse to be thrown before the New Year, which only gives us three months to prepare--not counting September. We have just completed the first week of school, and no one has improved during training. I'm growing increasingly worried, and the distractions they face can easily be solved if they just consummate their feelings."

He grew serious as well. "There are plans being made . . . I don't know them because I've fallen out of grace with the Dark Lord and Pettigrew for 'not knowing' Mr. Malfoy had the essence of Osiris in him. The wild fire in their eyes is brighter than ever before, but I couldn't extract their thoughts because I was so crazed with pain."

"You need to talk to Draco. I've already had a discussion with Ginny."

He snorted. "Does she remember it?"

"No, not consciously anyway."

"May have to do the same with Mr. Malfoy."

Jamilah shrugged. "Perhaps. But have this conversation soon. The sooner they get back to training the better off we'll all be."

Severus frowned. "What of Nia and Harry?"

She grinned at him. "Don't worry about them. They haven't even admitted it to themselves yet. They still have a ways to go."

He was confused. "That may very well be, and while I have a bit of relief that my daughter won't have to have this conversation with you yet, what of their powers and their training? Surely it's not up to the par it could be?"

She shook her head. "You are right, Severus, but she is young yet, and they still don't know she exists. Harry will be fine on the powers he has now. He's strong, no doubt, and with Draco and Ginny helping, he'll be fine."

"Do you think it is a good idea to keep Nia out of the line of fire?"

Her face hardened. "One would think, since you the chile's father, you wouldn't want her in harm's way!"

"But what is the point of training her if she doesn't do anything with it? We would've done better putting her under Fidelius and hiding her somewhere!"

Jamilah collapsed in her chair tiredly. "I just don't want her to get hurt . . ."

"That's unavoidable. She'll have to be hurt. She's a goddess and very important to the cause."

"Just like my baby was, and now she's dead because of it!"

Severus sighed and ran a hand over his face. "Jamilah, you know better than almost anyone sacrifices have to be made."

"But not when they can be avoided!"

"Jamilah--"

"Malika served her purpose and served it well, but Nia does not need to go out into the field before her time."

"You are not a Seer, Jamilah."

"But I am a grandmother!"

"Nia will go when she is called, and not even you will be able to stop her."

"And you're just gonna let it happen?"

"I can't stop her. She'll be too powerful."

"Damn Set!"

"Join the club."

There was silence now, and Severus drifted into his thoughts. He wanted Nia safe from harm as much as Jamilah did--possibly even more so. But he could no more stop fate than live forever, and he squared with that a long time ago. Every decision had a consequence--good or bad--and it was the delicate charge of choosing the right decision that affected the outcomes in life. He chose not to stop Nia whenever the time came. Fighting it would prove futile and even exhausting. He tried to fight Fate once, and it almost cost him Malika. He learned his lesson the hard way, even if everything worked out in the end. He spent nine blessed years with the woman he loved and a child who was more precious to him than air. He would not dishonor Malika by locking their child up from her purpose in life--even if he slept uneasily for the rest of his.

She looked at him sadly. "I never did thank you, you know . . . for all you've done for my family."

"I don't need your thanks."

She regarded him with a small smile. "Yes, you do. You need to know I really don't hate you as much as I let on."

"And now a great weight has been lifted off my shoulders."

Jamilah rolled her eyes and chuckled. "I know you're relieved, despite your sarcasm, Severus. Malika always wanted us to get along."

"That she did, but it was hard, considering every time you saw me you wanted to hex me into the next millennium."

"You hurt my baby."

"As unfortunate as that was, it was necessary."

"Don't make it hurt any less."

He idly ran a hand over his Mark. "No, it doesn't . . ."

She rose from her seat and kneeled before him, taking a hand in his. "You've been a wonderful father to my grandbaby, Severus, and you made my Malika happy in the last years of her life. I can't thank you enough for that, and I'm honored to call you my son."

He exhaled slowly and offered her a small smile. "Your words are humbling, Jamilah."

"And honest."

He squeezed her hand and smirked. "I do hope this doesn't affect our sparring matches. They are most entertaining, and they keep me on my toes."

"Of course not."

"Good; for a moment I was afraid I would have to suffer Sirius' weak attempts, and Slytherins do love worthy adversaries."

She lifted an eyebrow at him. "He almost stole Malika from you."

He scowled. "Out of my sight, old woman."

She grinned and gave him a wet kiss on this cheek. "That's for callin' me old."

He secured a handkerchief and wiped the residue off his cheek, chuckling as he heard the door hiss closed. Jamilah was like Dumbledore in many respects; he admitted to himself he'd come to see her as a mother figure--much different than his own, however. His own mother was very sweet, very accommodating. She rarely raised her voice and was the most mild-mannered woman he ever knew. Jamilah . . . Jamilah was all spice and sass--so unlike any mother figure he was used to seeing. The mothers of his social circle were all to be seen and not heard--ornaments to be a testament to the husband's virility and acumen in securing a perfect wife. His mother was perfectly fine to play the role as well, something he grew to resent her for as he got older. He never did understand why men wanted a woman who would puppet answers when told, as if they were dummies and their husbands were ventriloquists. He treasured the independent mind and vowed his wife would as well. A man was only as strong as the woman he had, and to have a simpering, vacant spouse only served to highlight the man's lack of masculinity.

Case in point--Lucius Malfoy.

Lucius, at the beginning of his tenure as a Death Eater, was very persuasive and feared. Then again, Narcissa was suffering a broken heart, and a women scorned was a force to be reckoned with. But as soon as she had Draco, her attention focused elsewhere, and with it, Lucius' influence over other Death Eaters. When Voldemort fell, so did Lucius' loyalty to the cause, and he cried Imperius Curse.

Weakling.

For all of the man's threats and sadism, he was weak--a weak man who would follow the very thing he claimed to curse. Many of the Death Eaters were full of hot air, but they had the protection of the label Death Eater, and with that came artificial power. They all wondered why Potter and the Order did not fear them, and Severus had to bite his tongue numerous times for fear of losing the advantage for the Order. The only men who really scared him were Lestrange and Pettigrew--both had very strong women behind them or, at the very least, wanted strong women behind them. A woman's mind was cunning, saw all angles of a matter before deciding, and it was smart.

It also had the ability come up with things that would drive a man up a wall.

Mr. Potter will have a time with Nia, then.

Severus knew the thought was evil, but he could only imagine Nia arguing Potter's ear off about something--more than likely her yearning to fight. Potter, like his father before him, was horribly noble, and that meant keeping those he loved out of harm's way. Lily wouldn't listen to James, and it was only fitting that any Potter wife be as much trouble to her husband as possible.

He loved Lily for that.

That wasn't to say Lily and James didn't love each other, for they did, but Lily was not an easy conquest for the egotistical Potter. James Potter had to earn Lily Evans' love, and Harry Potter would have to do the same with Nia Roberts.

He hoped to Merlin his daughter would make it as difficult as possible. Potter had a horrible entitlement complex--even worse than Malfoy's on some level--and that was a hard thing to come by.

Snape snickered and conjured a new cup of tea just as the door hissed open again. Snape raised an amused eyebrow as his guest walked in with an air of superiority.

"Jamilah told me to come here."

Severus said nothing and took a sip from his tea. Once he got his fill, he put his drink down and fixed his face to mirror seriousness.

"I thought we had an arrangement."

Draco was unapologetic, even smirking at his comment.

Smug little wanker. I wonder how he would react if I told him he looked as his father did before Voldemort subjected him to the Cruciatus Curse.

"Better me than you, Professor."

He lifted a curious eyebrow. "Really? How so?"

"I'm the last person they would think defected from them; thus all their efforts will be to destroy me, and they'll leave you alone."

"How considerate of you . . . but you do realize my role will be exposed at some point. The Conception Ritual was the perfect opportunity."

Draco scowled. "How could I, in good conscience, allow what they were trying to do to Ginny? Just because you couldn't do anything doesn't mean I was going to just stand around and let it happen!"

Severus shot him a look that would freeze fire. "Listen carefully, Malfoy. You'd do well to keep your opinions to yourself, especially when pertaining to matters of which you have no knowledge. Understand me?"

"Clearly."

He set his teacup down and put his fingers in a steeple. "Your devotion to Miss Weasley is commendable, Mr. Malfoy, but you must be aware there are others beyond her to which you must have care."

"Not at the expense of Ginny!"

He regarded Draco for a moment. "You can be a selfish little bugger when you want to be."

Draco smirked. "I'm a Malfoy. I get what I want."

"Set will not give a shit what your last name is. All he cares is you are in the way of getting something he wants. He killed the essence within you all those years ago . . . don't be mistaken into believing he won't do it again."

Draco glared at him. "You mean as you almost did in the Shrieking Shack."

"I saved your scrawny little neck, Osiris. Pettigrew was two seconds away from getting off an AK. If I hadn't stunned you and told Miss Weasley to Portkey you out, all three of you would be dead by now."

He looked shocked by that revelation. "But--but how--"

"You're not the only one who made alternate plans. Who do you think told Mr. Potter to go the Shack in the first place?"

"He has the connection with Voldemort."

"Yes, he does, but he has the brains of a newt. He would've gone in wand blazing, and the cover would've been blown far earlier than necessary."

"Earlier than necessary?"

Severus curled his upper lip. "It seems, Mr. Malfoy, your earlier assessment of the circumstances were correct; Dumbledore thought it best to expose you first, for it would only be a matter of time before Set realized just exactly who you were, and that would've created more problems than solutions. I applaud you on your foresight. The problem, however, occurred when you decided to make a Gryffindor decision to go in without consulting those who had the ability to help."

"Jamilah helped . . "

"Jamilah helped Nia, not you. The dress would've protected Ginny from any type of Dark magic for seventy-two hours. You relied on the skills of a thirteen year old girl--"

"The earrings worked!"

"Only because Nia asked her grandmother for the appropriate charm. I'm glad one of you isn't so blinded by love you can't see reason."

"I can see reason," Draco muttered.

"When was the last time you and Miss Weasley made progress in your training sessions?"

It was at this moment Severus wished he had a camera; it wasn't every day a Malfoy was caught blushing.

"No answer?" Severus asked rhetorically. "I thought so . . . this segues nicely into the second reason of the conversation."

"Which is?"

Severus lifted an eyebrow as he took another sip of his tea. He dragged out the process, watching Draco slip into a posture of apathy.

Perfect.

Severus cradled the cup in his hands and looked at Draco with a blank expression.

"Mr. Malfoy, you are to have relations with Miss Weasley at your earliest convenience."

He smothered a laugh as the younger man blanched and succumbed to a sudden, violent coughing fit.

"Excuse me, sir?" Draco asked once he got control of himself.

"I believe my speech was more than comprehensible."

Draco sputtered before regaining his wits. "Surely you cannot be serious!"

"As a heart attack, Mr. Malfoy."

Draco's face was frozen incredulity. "You're telling me to have sex!"

"Of course not, Mr. Malfoy. What kind of professor and Head of House would I be if I told you to do such a thing?" Snape conjured a teacup and poured the drink inside it. "Tea?"

Draco took it gratefully and sipped long from it. Severus thought the sting would hurt in the morning.

"I'm telling you to consummate the love you have for the girl."

Draco took a rather large gulp of his drink and winced as it went down.

"Are you quite all right, Mr. Malfoy?"

He scowled. "This is ridiculous."

Severus became very serious then. "No. What is ridiculous is the fact you and Miss Weasley cannot keep your hands off of each other long enough to have a productive training session. What is ridiculous is the fact you cannot focus long enough in your classes and in your sessions with me to improve your skills in mental defenses because you are in a perpetual lust-fog. Your yearning for each other is hurting more than helping, and if consummation is the only way to get you two up to par, then so be it. The Dark Lord and Pettigrew will exploit any weakness you have, and the affection between you and Miss Weasley is supposed to be a strength, not something to exploit."

Draco stared into his teacup a long while before responding. "Do you think by consummating our love, our powers will increase?"

"Jamilah seems to think so."

The younger man frowned. "Does it matter if we're virgins or not?"

"Mr. Malfoy . . . do you want to know why Pettigrew wanted Miss Weasley?"

"Because she has the essence of Nephthys."

Severus nodded. "That is part of it. But it is mostly because she was an untouched maiden . . . copulation with a virgin creates very powerful consequences. Not to say if Miss Weasley wasn't a virgin, Pettigrew wouldn't still want her, but there would be no need for such an elaborate Conception Ritual. The Death Eaters would've violated her as they would any other slag and kept her until the child was born."

"What of the child?"

"Born of a woman who wasn't a virgin before the Conception Ritual?"

"Yes."

Severus took a sip of tea before replying. "The child would be powerful, no doubt, but weaker than a child who was born of a deflowered woman at the Ritual."

Draco seemed to struggle slightly. "Was Nia's mother a virgin before her Conception Ritual?"

Severus' eyes never strayed from Draco's. "No."

"So Nia isn't as strong as she could've been?"

"Malika's Ritual wasn't typical of a Dark Conception Ritual."

Draco frowned. "Why?"

Severus hesitated but decided to answer anyway. The information the boy gleaned now could save Ginny if a similar situation arose again. "It's a complicated thing . . . but Nia's mother and I consummated our love before she was turned in for the Ritual."

Draco's eyes rose slightly. "Oh. Well . . . why couldn't you be the, uh . . ."

"I had been touched by darkness already. Nia had to be free of that."

"But Pettigrew--"

"Turned into the form of Caleb Johnson. Caleb Johnson had not been touched by darkness; therefore, he could sire Nia safely. Nia had to be born in chaos and despair, not of it."

"But because you and Nia's mother were true lovers, your consummation activated a necessary magic or something?"

Severus nodded. "In a sense, yes. True love had to be present--both within the mother and at the Ritual."

Draco sighed deeply. "And to think, it almost worked for the snake this time."

"But that is over and done now, Mr. Malfoy."

Draco looked into the fire a moment. "Professor Snape--I think I want to be Obliviated. I don't want to make love to Ginny with the thought of it as an assignment in the back of my head."

Severus smirked but nodded. "I can honor that, Mr. Malfoy." He lifted his wand, but Draco shook his head. "Mr. Malfoy?"

"You had a Death Eater's meeting tonight."

It was more a statement than a question, but Severus nodded anyway. "Yes."

It seemed Draco was locked in an internal debate; he nodded when he was ready to respond. "How was Lucius?"

"In a lot of pain for the majority of the meeting."

Draco's lip curled. "Does he have any idea where Mother and I are?"

"About as much as his ability to love."

Draco smiled evilly. "Splendid."

Severus matched the younger boy's expression. "Exactly."

Draco nodded again. "I'm ready now."

Severus raised his wand and performed the spell. Draco blinked a few times and frowned in confusion.

"I was just saying I expect you not to abuse your position as Head Boy. Slytherin is a mighty house, and we do not want to give the slightest cause for people to take that away from you."

Draco scoffed. "You have nothing to worry about, Professor."

Severus inclined his head and grinned. "Good. Have a good night, Mr. Malfoy."

Draco returned the gesture and left the quarters. Severus sighed and ran a hand over his face. He was glad Nia was a girl and not a boy, for he didn't think he could handle giving "the talk" to his own child!

Thank Merlin for Jamilah . . .

He smirked. He could imagine the look of horror on Nia's face, having to endure the talk from her grandmother. He might even be present just to see the look of discomfort on the Little One.

"That's not very nice, Severus, taking pleasure from her distress."

Severus sighed and rolled his eyes. "Could you kindly stop doing that, Headmaster? It's a bit disconcerting."

The older man chuckled as he walked further in the room. "My dear boy, what would be the fun in that?"

Severus raised an eyebrow. "Point taken, Headmaster. I swear you're a Slytherin in disguise."

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled and he winked.

Insufferable old man!

Severus poured yet another cup of tea and handed it to Dumbledore. He smiled his thanks and took a grateful sip. "It's a wonder you have any tea left to serve, Severus."

"I'm not a wizard for nothing, Headmaster."

Dumbledore chuckled again and took another drink. "No, that you aren't, Severus. Your guidance is paramount to the destruction of Set."

Severus gave a snort. "Indeed."

Dumbledore smirked. "You just gave Draco his consummation talk, didn't you?"

"That was a talk his father should've given to him at some point."

Dumbledore's blue eyes darkened. "Lucius is no more a father than I am a mother. For all intents and purposes, you've raised the boy, Severus."

He scowled. "Don't say that, Headmaster."

"I say it, and I mean it. If you hadn't intervened, who knows what kind of future Draco would've had? Everything could have been for naught."

"I thought Fate worked itself out."

"Ah, my Son. Fate can only do so much. It shows us paths. It is up to us to choose wisely."

"That bit of advice sounds familiar."

Dumbledore smiled kindly. "You did make a detour before you got to your correct path, but everything happens for a reason."

"For better or for worse."

"Exactly."

"Unfortunate that the worst times outweigh the best, isn't it?"

Dumbledore sighed and conjured a biscuit. He bit into it thoughtfully before speaking. "Better the father endures the worst, so his children can have the best."

"The worst is yet to come, Headmaster. Though I didn't hear any specifics, Pettigrew and Voldemort will launch a full attack soon."

"Did you glean where?"

Severus shook his head. "They put me under Cruciatus. I was unable to sift through their thoughts. My guess will be during a high profile time--a holiday of some sort. It will be devastating."

Dumbledore squinted his eyes. "Do you suggest we cancel Hogsmeade trips?"

He shrugged. "That's a hard call to make, Headmaster. Perhaps only allow fourth years and up to go. Fourth year is the time when they start to learn beneficial defenses against Dark Arts . . . none of the trivial 'look at the boggart I found' formalities they endure the previous three years--"

"I'm sure Neville wasn't the first person who had a boggart turn into you, Severus," Dumbledore said with a wink.

"I should hope not . . . I haven't been doing my job properly if that be the case."

Dumbledore grew sober. "How I wish you were the scariest thing my students should fear . . I have a feeling boggarts will turn into more gruesome things by the time the year is over."

Severus pursed his lips. "I think, however, it would be best to keep the students here during holidays . . . it wouldn't do well to let all the Muggle-born and half-blood students out to Voldemort for easy prey."

"You mean for holidays such as Christmas . . "

"Yes, obviously, but Halloween as well. Either push back or bring forward the first Hogsmeade trip. The farther away from Halloween the better."

"Duly noted. Any other suggestions."

"Do not be so obvious with stepped up safety measures. The quickest way to send these children into a panic is to be obvious about their safety. The Dementors four years ago were an atrocious call--"

"Fudge is rather thick--"

"Speaking of Fudge, how is Mr. Weasley doing? Has he recovered any more information that could be of use?"

Dumbledore took another bite of his biscuit. "Percy saw some very peculiar pieces of documentation from Fudge's desk. I've been able to extract them from his memory and put them in a top secret Pensieve. I think it was information about the giants we tried to secure two years ago."

"The giant communities Death Eaters' raided?"

Dumbledore nodded. "The very ones. Percy's under the impression there's a plant within the Ministry."

"That's no surprise. Lucius Malfoy was the main one."

The headmaster shook his head. "No . . . he thinks Fudge is a Death Eater."

Snape shrugged. "Stranger things happen."

"Not only that, but it would offer many solutions--such as Fudge's insistence to have Dementors at Azkaban, then at the school when Sirius escaped--"

"Why do you say 'escape' with such skepticism, Headmaster?"

Dumbledore gave him a pointed look. "You know as well as I, Severus, that no one leaves Azkaban unless someone from the Ministry wants him or her to leave. What better way to get rid of Harry Potter than with the man who supposedly killed his parents?"

"Do you really think Fudge is that bright?"

"I think Fudge is smarter than he looks--"

"Not that it's saying much, mind you--"

"Regardless, Severus, the Ministry of Magic controls public opinion--good or bad. You saw the fallout with Harry after he said Voldemort was back! No one believed him because the Daily Prophet didn't believe him, and the Daily Prophet, regardless of its tendency to turn into a rag, still prints essentially the point of view of the Ministry of Magic. Who runs the Ministry of Magic? The Minister of Magic does. If Voldemort has an in at the Minister post, that is a very good advantage."

"And what does the Order have? A potions master doubling as a Death Eater--my, how we're up to par."

Dumbledore scoffed. "Your sarcasm is unnecessary, Severus. So what if they have a Minister of Magic? We have two gods and two goddesses who can give the Dark Side some light."

"Death Eaters are like roaches--they scatter in it."

"Then we have to be exterminators, don't we?"

Severus nodded and took a sip from his tea.

"Snape!"

He squeezed is eyes closed and groaned. Why did Fate not allow him a moment's peace this night?

He opened one eye to see Sirius walk inside the living quarter, clearly perturbed about something.

"What do you want, Black?"

"Is what I'm hearing true? You're allowing Draco to have sex with a minor?"

Dumbledore stood. "That sounds like my cue to leave . . ."

"What a coincidence . . . it was Black's cue as well."

Black shot him a look. "I'm not leaving until I get some answers!"

"Damn."

"Have a good night, Severus. We'll talk more in the morning."

"Anxious, Headmaster."

Dumbledore's eye twinkled as he left. Severus sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to mentally prepare himself for the onslaught.

"What is it that I'm to answer, so you can leave me be?"

Black's eyes flashed in anger. "How can you condone Draco to have sex with a minor?!"

"How do you know about this?"

Black rolled his eyes. "Jamilah told me as we were having tea."

"What were you doing out of the dungeons?"

Black shrank back as a chastised dog would.

As he should . . .

"I was bored! It's hard for me to be confined to a small amount of space for long periods of time."

"Another perk to your stay in Azkaban, I'm sure."

"Don't you ever talk about that godforsaken place to me."

"Bygones . . . anyway, what's it to you? I thought you were all for carnal pleasures?"

It was clear Black couldn't believe his gall. "What you're telling him to do . . it's indecent!"

Severus looked at him incredulously. "This coming from a man who deflowered many a minor as a minor . . ."

Black sputtered. "That is not the point! That's Ginny we're talking about!"

"Jamilah gave the girl the same lecture I gave Draco. It is necessary for the cause."

"I'll bet you won't be nearly as understanding when it's Nia and Harry's turn."

Severus glared at him. "Nia and Harry are two stubborn children who will deny what they feel for one another until something drastic forces them to do otherwise. I am not worried about those two."

Black smirked. "You'd kill Harry if he touched her, wouldn't you?"

"In a heartbeat."

Black laughed at his reaction, and Severus scowled. "Who would have thought Snape would be an overprotective daddy!"

"Thank Merlin we were all spared that fate in regards to you."

"As overprotective?"

Severus snorted. "As a father."

"I make a good godfather to Harry!"

"The boy is rash and moody. He's worse than a woman before her monthly cycle."

"You know all about 'monthly cycles,' don't you, Snape?"

Severus looked to his tea and sipped from it. "That was crass even for you, Snuffles. One would think Remus Lupin was merely a piece in your sick game of torture rather than a friend."

The other man sighed. "That was really out of line for me."

"Nothing less than expected. Dogs are not known for their tact."

"I'll let that slide this time, Snape."

"As if you could do anything else. You don't have the wit to keep up with me."

"It takes a prick to think as a prick."

Severus grinned. "Exactly. This is why you cannot keep up with me . . . prick . . ."

Black growled and stood quickly. "I don't even know why I attempt to be nice to you."

Severus shrugged. "Perhaps it's because we are linked to each other far more intimately than we care to be, and the link is unbreakable."

Black snorted and crossed his arms. "I don't swing that way, and even if I did, it wouldn't be toward you."

Severus rolled his eyes and took another sip. "Don't flatter yourself, Black. You can barely handle me as a straight man."

"Now who's talking like a nancy-boy?"

Severus merely shook his head and put down his teacup. "Is there a reason you are here?"

"Besides the fact I live here . . . yes . . . I have a question."

"I have an answer. What luck you are in."

Black clenched his jaw in an obvious effort to control his temper.

"When will I be able to help with the Order?"

Severus frowned and answered hesitantly. "How do you mean?"

Black glared at him and began to pace. "This is almost worse than two years ago, when I was cooped up at home all damn day! I feel useless! All I want to do is stick it to Voldie and rip Pettigrew's heart out in return for doing the same to me and Harry!"

"It's not as simple as that, as you very well know--"

"But it actually is. All this planning and plotting . . . it's doing nothing more than biding the bastard's time, so he can have a repeat of what happened sixteen years ago!"

Snape shook his head. "I don't expect a Gryffindor to appreciate the time it takes to plan a coup that will provide the least amount of mishaps as possible, but I'll try to explain it to you anyway--Set is more powerful, more sadistic, more patient than you are giving him credit for. Why else do you think he hasn't made a move since the Shrieking Shack incident? After that miscalculation, Pettigrew and Voldemort will wait until the time is right. It is our job, as the adults of this operation, to equip these children with the tools and every advantage they can have to ensure their safety and our victory. If Dumbledore sees fit to keep you down here out of sight--with which I wholeheartedly agree--then so be it. You will not fuck things up just because you are antsy."

They stared at each other for a long while before Black finally rolled his eyes. "Fine, point taken, but I want to spend more time with Harry--and Nia."

Severus' eyes flashed. "What the hell does Nia have to do with you?!"

Black glared at him. "In case you forgot, Malika was a Gryffindor, and we dated as well, and during the time you were playing Death Eater, she and I were close. I think she'd like to hear stories about Nia's mother that you weren't around to tell. Besides, Malika was Harry's godmother . . . I think he'd like to hear stories about her as well."

Severus growled; the wanker had a point.

"Fine."

"Good. Jamilah said I could sit in their next training session to watch their progress."

Severus looked at him seriously. "Be warned, Black. If you distract my child so that she gets hurt during training, a Dementor's Kiss will seem mere child's play to what I will do to you."

"What about Harry?"

"What about him? Not as if he needs you to help him get distracted."

Black grinned. "I'm sure Nia does that enough . . . she's as beautiful as her mother at that age."

"Black . . ."

Black rolled his eyes and gave a mock salute. "I've been duly warned." He sauntered to the door. "Unpleasant dreams, Snivellus."

Severus sighed as the door slid closed. "I wondered when that dear nickname would make an appearance." He whirled and muttered a Locking Spell to the door, not wanting any more visitors that night. He groaned.

There was a stack of quizzes on his desk that needed to be graded.

"Bugger that. All I want to do is sleep and not wake for a very long time . . "

But he knew that wouldn't be possible. It would be a long time before his sleep would be restful again.