Red Lion Green Snake

Red Lion Green Snake

Koori

Prologue: Things That Came Before

Auror Amaris Drayce walked through the town of Hogsmeade. She brushed a lock of her black hair behind her ear. She was really going to have to do something about her hair. When she had joined the Aurors shortly after graduating from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry her hair, which had gone down to her waist, was cut short. In the two months since finishing Auror training she had been allowed to let it grow back out. Unfortunately, it was in the stage where almost all of it would stay up except two locks in the front. Sighing, as one of them fell back into her face, she decided to give up on her hair and return to the task at hand.

It had been two days since he'd been spotted. Severus Snape suspected Death Eater and breaker of Amaris's heart. He'd asked the Aurors who had gotten near him to send her after him before he Disapparated. She had no idea why he wanted to have her come after him. Maybe he thought she wouldn't have the heart to kill him. Or maybe he was trying to lure her into a trap. That was what James Potter had said, and so he'd gone after Severus instead. And then this morning, he'd sent her an owl summoning her to Hogsmeade. So here she was looking for her best friend since she could remember who happened to be hunting the only man she'd had ever loved. And to top it all off, the two men hated each other. Once again she wondered how any of them had survived school.

"James?" she shouted as she neared the path to the Shrieking Shack.

"Over here."

Amaris looked up towards the house. James stood at the gate. His hair was a little more tousled then normal, and he looked as though he hadn't slept in days, but he was smiling all the same. Amaris just looked at him for a moment. Even run down, he was as handsome as ever. She was suddenly reminded that she'd almost ended up being the one married to him. Thankfully, their parents hadn't had their way. As handsome as she thought James was, it still would have been like marrying her brother.

"You look terrible," Amaris said laughing as she walked up to him.

"Thanks," James said sarcastically, opening the gate.

"How is Lily?" Amaris followed him up towards the house. How she wished she could spend more time with the one woman her own age that she considered her friend, especially now that she was pregnant.

"She was fine when I last saw her," James replied. "She seems to be in the chocolate-craving phase."

Amaris reluctantly changed the subject to what they needed to be discussing. "Where is he now?"

"Upstairs," James said.

"How did he get in?"

"I'm not entirely sure what happened to the wards," James replied pushing the door of the shack open, "but he managed it somehow. Every time I try to go up after him he blasts the top of the stairs. Let him know you're here."

"Severus," Amaris said standing at the base of the stairs. She could see a bit of movement upstairs.

"Amaris?" was the reply. He sounded weak.

"Severus Snape get down here," Amaris winked at James. Severus had always listened to her when she'd taken that tone with him. The weaker or more tired he was the more likely he was to obey.

"Is Potter there?"

"Yes," Amaris replied, "he was assigned to your case. Now come down."

"No," Severus said, "not while he's here."

Amaris glared at James. "Men," she said quietly. It was a good thing she'd convinced Sirius not to come with her. Severus would have never come down.

"I didn't do anything," James replied.

"Just go," Amaris pushed him towards the door. There was a look of concern in his eyes. "Don't worry, he won't hurt me."

"Alright," James opened the door again, "but I'll be just outside if you need me."

"I know," Amaris nodded. She let the door slam behind James to let Snape know he had left, and then she went back over to the steps. She looked back up the stairs again. "Alright, Severus, he's gone. Please come down and talk to me."

The stairs creaked as Snape stared down them. Amaris gasped softly as Severus appeared. His face looked thin and the circles under his eyes were darker then normal. His hair was extra stringy. He looked nothing like he did the last time she'd seen him. But then, that had been three years ago. She'd changed since then, how could she have expected him not to? Especially since he'd spent those three years in the service of the man she loathed and so many others feared. Like her father, Amaris was convinced that Voldemort had murdered her mother, who was a Muggle-born witch who had worked in the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts office. Amaris had been three years old at the time. She had no memory of her mother.

"Hello, Amaris," Severus said pulling her from her thoughts, "it's good to see you again."

Amaris walked as close to him as she dared, trying not to let him see that he still held power over her. She had admitted to herself when she'd heard he'd been spotted that she was still in love with him, and she couldn't let him know that until she figured out what he was up to. "Why did you lead James here?"

"Why didn't you come track me when I popped up in London?" He walked past her towards the middle of the room. "Why did you send him?"

Here we go, she thought, mind game time. Severus had always had a way of running circles around someone with his voice, and she was no exception. She would have to try to keep control of the conversation. "I was...busy."

"To busy to come find me yourself, when I specifically asked for you?" There was desperation in his voice.

That wasn't the response she was expecting. Something was wrong. Could he possibly be scared of something? Of Voldemort? Or worse, her? "What do you want, Severus?" She couldn't cover up the concern in her voice.

"I want to talk to Dumbledore," Severus turned towards her, "I have information for him."

"You know that's not possible," Amaris practically snapped at him to try to cover up the shock, "he has to stay at the school to protect the children. He can't even come here."

"Why?"

"I can't tell you that."

"Then take me to him," Severus stated.

"That's not possible either," Amaris shook her head.

"And why not?"

"If I take a suspected Death Eater into Hogwarts I'll lose my job," Amaris replied. And possibly my head to an upset parent, she thought.

Severus moved closer to her. She tried to move away, but she bumped into the wall. His face softened into the expression that made her knees go weak and her brain turn to mush. "Please, I've seem too many innocent people die to not do anything anymore."

Amaris sighed and leaned her head on his shoulder. "I really wish you hadn't looked at me like that. You know that does me in every time."

"I can think of one time it didn't work."

Amaris raised her head. He was talking about when he'd made her choose between him and her friends. Anger had been the only thing that had allowed her to stand her ground. Of course after he'd broken up with her and stormed off, she hadn't been able to stand. She'd sat, curled up in a ball, crying for five minutes before Lily had found her. Lily had said that Severus had told her where to find Amaris. That had given Amaris hope that he did care, but didn't want to risk the attachment to her. She sighed and then walked over to the door. "James," she shouted outside, "we're going up to the school."

"What?" James appeared at the door. "Are you batty? We can't take him up there."

"He wants to talk to Dumbledore," Amaris said, "if he does anything you can kill him yourself."

She watched James eye Severus suspiciously. "Alright, but I don't like it."

"You don't have to like it," Amaris smiled at him, "just come on."

Professor McGonagall led them up to Dumbledore's office. Students walked past surprised to see two Aurors in the school; Amaris only hoped they didn't know who Severus was. She really didn't need to get howlers from parents. Maybe Dumbledore would help keep all of this quiet and she wouldn't lose her job. Oh, who was she kidding, her own father was the Commanding Auror; he expected exact rule following from everyone, but he demanded it from Amaris and her older brother, Markus. Maybe she could get her hands on a Daily Prophet to start looking for job opening while Severus spoke to Dumbledore.

"Jelly slugs," McGonagall said. The Gargoyle moved out of their way to reveal a set of stairs that had already begun twisting their way upwards. McGonagall stepped onto the staircase. Amaris followed her. The two men who had been silent she they had left the Shrieking Shack stepped onto the stairs behind her. The stairs reached the door to the Headmaster's office. McGonagall opened the door for Amaris and the others. Her former teacher offered her a smile of reassurance.

"It is so good to see the three of you again," Dumbledore said, "now what did you want me to talk about Severus?"

Amaris wasn't surprised that Dumbledore had known they were coming. He seemed to always know what was going on.

"I'm prepared to offer you everything I know about Lord Voldemort and the Death Eaters," Severus said stepping closer to the older man.

Dumbledore looked over were Amaris stood with James and McGonagall. "Minerva, why don't you take Amaris and James to get some food? James looks as though he hasn't eaten in days."

Amaris opened her mouth to protest, but shut it when McGonagall shook her head at her. With one last glance at Severus, Amaris followed her out of the office.

Several hours later, Amaris sat by the fireplace in the chamber behind the Great Hall, reading the Daily Prophet. This deep inside the Castle was cold enough to still need a fire to make the room inhabitable for anyone dressed for the weather outside. McGonagall had brought her and James here after leaving Dumbledore's office. After they had eaten, it became apparent that James was in worse shape then they had thought, and was taken to the hospital wing to be attended by Madam Pomfrey. Since then, Amaris had been sitting here, alone, waiting for something to happen.

She kept thinking about what had to be going on up in Dumbledore's office. What she wouldn't give to be up there getting names. She could have squads of Aurors arresting Death Eaters by the end of the day. But no, Dumbledore had to send her and James away. It hadn't occurred to her earlier that she could have interrogated Severus right there in the Shrieking Shack. But then, she didn't think she could have done that, not to Severus. She loved him too much to use him as a tool in such a way. If Severus had wanted her there Dumbledore wouldn't have sent her away.

Just when she was ready to give up and go wandering around to alleviate her boredom, the door to the chamber opened and Severus walked in. He looked better then when she'd seen him earlier. "I wanted to come say goodbye."

"You're leaving?" Amaris put the paper down, "but where will you go? I mean you can't...you just..."

"Betrayed Voldemort to Dumbledore?"Severus looked humored. "I know. I was there, Amaris."

"But, if he finds out, he'll kill you."

"I know that, too," Severus replied, "which is why he can't find out, and why you couldn't be up there when I was talking about him. I'm going to be a spy for Dumbledore."

"No," Amaris got up and went over to him, "it's too dangerous. I...I don't want you to."

"Still think you're in love with me?"

"I am in love with you," Amaris brushed a lock of hair out of this face, "don't go back, stay here. Voldemort won't be able to get to you here."

"You don't know that," Severus stepped away from her, "I have to go back. I have to do something. Face it, Amaris; a relationship between us is impossible. Just forget about it."

And with that he turned and left. She sat back down in the chair and looked at the floor trying hard not to cry. Knowing he was a Death Eater had been one thing, knowing he was a spy was much different. He was in twice as much danger as before and there was nothing she could do about it. She didn't see him at dinner that night. She and James left shortly afterwards. As walked down towards the gate to Apparate back to London, Amaris wondered if she'd ever see Severus alive again.

Almost a year and a half later Amaris sat in Dumbledore's office again. Something had happened, she knew it. Everyone was celebrating, but the instant they saw her most of them stopped. No one would tell her what had happened, not even Remus who was standing near the window. He looked more worn then she'd seen him in long time. Amaris watched as Fawkes flew off his perch and landed on Remus's shoulder. The werewolf smiled weakly before looking outside. It was late, almost midnight, on the first day of November. Finally, Professor Dumbledore walked in followed by Professor McGonagall and Severus. What was he doing here?

Amaris leapt to her feet, deciding to ignore Severus for the moment. "Will someone please tell me what's happened?" she sighed. "I know something has happened."

"Maybe you should sit down," Dumbledore said. Amaris eyed him suspiciously for a minute before doing what he asked. "Lord Voldemort has been defeated."

Amaris was slightly stunned. Voldemort had been at the height of his power. What could possibly have defeated him all of the sudden? "That doesn't explain why everyone is walking on egg shells around me," Amaris replied.

"James and Lily are dead," Dumbledore stated bluntly.

Amaris eyes watered up. Dead? They couldn't be dead; they were in hiding. Sirius was the Secret Keeper for their Fidelius Charm. It couldn't possibly have been broken, unless someone had gotten to Sirius. Was he dead, too? She looked over at Lupin, who was standing with a hand over his face. "How?"

"Voldemort."

"But Sirius..."

"He betrayed Lily and James," Dumbledore said sadly, "and this afternoon he killed Peter Pettigrew and twelve Muggles."

"Peter, too," Amaris covered her face with both hands to try to hide the fact that she was about to burst into tears. She felt someone put an arm around her shoulders. Looking up she saw it was Remus. "What about Harry?"

"He is fine," Dumbledore replied. "Minerva and I have just returned from taking him to his aunt and uncle's."

"The Dursleys?" Amaris was amazed. The Dursleys were terrible people. She had met Lily's sister Petunia for the first time when Lily's family had picked Lily up after their first year at Hogwarts. She'd met Petunia's husband, Vernon at Lily and James' wedding. "Are you sure that is the best place for him?"

"Yes, Amaris," Dumbledore replied, "now it is late, and you have just had very bad news. Why don't you stay here tonight? You too, Remus."

"Yes, Professor," Remus replied softly.

Amaris simply nodded.

"Now, let us all go to bed," Dumbledore said.

Later that night, Amaris sat crying at the desk in the room she'd been given near Gryffindor tower. She was surprised by a knock on the door. She looked in the mirror, wiping the moisture from her face. She looked terrible. Her shoulder length hair was all tangled up. The skin under her green eyes was puffy and red. Even the four scars that were slashed across her right cheek were redder then normal. The knocking continued. The painting that had been trying to console her smiled at her as she went to the door. Amaris pulled it open. Severus stood on the other side. He smiled at her softly, his eyes full of concern. She was glad it was him and not Remus. Tears welled up again as she walked back over to the couch. She heard Severus close the door after walking into the room. Suddenly feeling cold, she started shaking.

"Amaris," Severus said tentatively, "I am so sorry."

Amaris turned. He was standing right in front of her. The concern had moved from his eyes to his entire face. The tears spilled over and she stepped closer to him wrapping her arms around his waist. She felt him stiffen slightly before wrapping his arms around her and leaning his head on hers. They stood like that for several minutes. Amaris sobbed into his shoulder while Severus made comforting noises. She soaked in his presence, grateful to be in his arms again. Finally, though, she was tired of crying. She pulled herself together and lifted her head from his shoulder.

They stood awkwardly for a few seconds before pulling apart. Severus handed Amaris a handkerchief. She managed to muster a smile of thanks and walked towards the bathroom to blow her nose. When she returned he was sitting on the couch.

"Well, make yourself at home," Amaris said trying to lighten the mood. "Thank you for being concerned about me."

"I thought you might like a shoulder to cry on," he replied.

She sat down next to him on the couch. He put his arm around her and tried to pull her closer. "Severus, don't," Amaris shifted to face him, "I thought you'd decided a relationship between us was impossible."

"That was before," Severus replied, "things are different now. Voldemort's gone."

"Severus," Amaris stood up, "I can't believe you would want to talk about this now."

"Now is as good a time as any," Severus said.

"Now is a terrible time," Amaris turned towards him, "three of my best friends are dead, another is going to be sent to Azkaban for killing thirteen people and you're asking me to think about something I've been spending the last year and a half trying to forget."

"I hadn't realized you'd been trying to forget about it."

"That's what you told me to do," Amaris glared at him, "remember?"

Severus stood up. "Raymond and Armand are both retiring at the end of the year. Dumbledore has offered me the Potions position. The defense position is still open, we could both teach here."

"I love my current job," Amaris said, "and besides Voldemort isn't dead, he's just disappeared."

"That's what Dumbledore says. Everyone else thinks he's dead."

"Well, I believe Dumbledore over everyone else," Amaris replied, "and what happens when he returns? Or better yet, what about the other Death Eaters? They're already suspicious that we're still seeing each other. I'm an Auror. They hate me. If I quit and come teach here, then they'll know we're seeing each other. They'll get suspicious of you and if they find out you were spying they'll want revenge, against both of us. I'm not putting the school in that kind of danger."

"The Death Eaters are already being rounded up," Severus said. "Soon they'll all be in Azkaban."

"No they won't," Amaris said. "They'll just say they were under the Imperius Curse. That's what some of the ones we've captured have said already. The influential ones, Walden Macnair, Lucius Malfoy, and others will get off. You can teach here, but I'm staying where I am."

"Amaris please," Severus's eyes were filling with tears, "I can't stand to have you away from me any longer."

"You broke my heart twice, Severus Snape," Amaris said moving towards the door, "I won't let you do it again. Now get out."

Severus glared at her for a moment before sweeping past her and out of the room. Amaris slammed the door behind him and then collapsed onto the bed in tears. She lay awake for a long time crying, until finally she was so worn out that she fell into sleep.

A knock at the door awoke her the next morning. Amaris rolled off of the bed and yanked the door open, ready to yell at Severus again. Instead she found Remus standing there holding a tray of food. She looked from the tray to him several times.

"You missed breakfast," Remus answered her unspoken question. "May I come in?"

"Sure," Amaris said taking the tray. The smell of the porridge made her stomach growl. She put the tray down on the small table. "Sit," she motioned to the chair opposite the one she sat down in. She began eating the porridge.

Remus practically collapsed into the chair, "how do you do it?"

"Do what?" Amaris paused in her eating. Oh boy, she thought, this can't be good.

"Act as though nothing has happened."

"Is that what you think I'm doing?" Amaris put her spoon down, "Remus, I...I've done my crying. I've seen too many people die recently, and I'm so happy that Voldemort is gone," she noticed Remus cringed when she said the name, "I know that no matter what, James and Lily would have rather had it this way. They died so that the rest of us could live, but they didn't go quietly. However they managed it they took him with them." She reached over and took Remus's hand. "The way we can repay them is by living, and protecting their son. That's also how we can repay the Longbottoms, and everyone else who are no longer with us because of this fight and left children behind. We have to do everything we can to make sure those kids get to grow up. And that people don't forget the sacrifices made."

Remus nodded weakly, "that doesn't make it hurt less."

"I know," Amaris said.

"And on top of all this, there is still Sirius to deal with," Remus replied, "I want to kill him."

"Get in line," Amaris stood up and went over to the window.

"He's being held at the Ministry for a few days," Remus walked up behind her, "Dumbledore arranged it so we can see him."

"I have nothing to say to him," she turned to face him, "I keep remembering the day James showed up and asked me to be their Secret Keeper. I told him I couldn't because the Ministry needed me too much. I feel so guilty," her eyes filled up with tears, "so much for that speech about living." He held his arms out. She stepped into his embrace.

"Dumbledore thinks it'll help us if we go see him," Remus whispered.

"Maybe, maybe not," she said, the tears subsiding, "I don't know if I'll be able to control the urge to scream at him, or use him as a punching bag."

"I don't think anyone would blame you," he replied.

She let go and back away to look at him. His face was wet from tears as well. She felt sorrier for him then for himself. He hadn't been able to be the Secret Keeper because he was a werewolf. It had to be very hard having your life dictated by the moon. When the boys had become Animagi in school it had helped. They had even gotten together after graduation to help Remus through the full moons. Now he would have to go through it alone. He reached out with his right hand and ran his fingers down the scars on her face. Werewolves were one of three creatures whose wounds that never healed. Amaris watched his expression carefully; they'd both been though so much recently, did they have to relive that night as well?

"I am so sorry for the danger I put you in," Remus said, "I should never have allowed Sirius to talk me into leaving the shack."

"I do not blame you," Amaris replied, "I know you would never hurt me."

"But I did."

"No, you didn't, the wolf did. There is a difference."

"I could have cursed you to life as a werewolf," Remus looked down at the ground.

She put her hand on his cheek, using her thumb to wipe away the moisture there. Remus's hand came up and covered hers. She watched as his eyes closed and he leaned his face into her hand. His eyes opened again and he stared back at her. She smiled at him as best she could. He managed a small smile in return. She leaned in and kissed his exposed cheek.

"But you didn't," Amaris said, "James and Sirius saved me and Lily. Besides even if I had become a werewolf that night, I know I wouldn't have been alone. Although I noticed the incident didn't stop you guys from continuing your excursions."

He smiled slightly, "We were much more careful after that."

"So, should we go see him?"

"I think so."

"Alright," she replied. "Let me finish eating and get cleaned up. Meet you in the entrance hall in an hour."

"Ok," Remus opened the door. Instead of leaving, he turned towards her, "I saw Snape visit you last night." He came towards her again. "What did he say?"

Amaris had only ever spoken of her love life to two people, Lily and Remus. He seemed to have decided that he would have to be nosy enough for the both of them now that Lily was gone. She didn't want to talk about her conversation with Severus, the wound was still fresh, but she knew from experience that it helped. "He wants me to fill Armand's spot here at the school, restart our relationship."

"Fuck, he has bad timing," Remus replied.

"Tell me about it," Amaris said, "I told him no, and yelled at him to leave."

"Good for you," Remus said, "He's hurt you far too many times."

"Ok, out you go," Amaris smiled.

Without another word, Remus left the room.