Severus Snape - Refuge

Chapter 12 - Prophecy Orb

Grayson broke the silence, "Let us know what we need to do, and we'll do it."

Severus turned to him, then looked at each of them, inwardly acknowledging his appreciation of the witches and wizards he had grown to trust. He was aware that Sirana was valued amongst the Order, and that her selfless strength had garnered deep friendships. Even if the war did not involve them, he knew they would fight for her without question.

Severus addressed Hagrid first, "I must take Sirana to Godric tomorrow. Would you be willing to take us?" Hagrid knew of Sirana's condition, and how difficult it would be to transport her. His flying motorbike would be the safest option.

"O'course! I will meet ye' at the Refuge tomorrow," Hagrid said.

"The children...I don't know how long this will take, and I can't leave them neglected", Severus said.

"Don't worry about them, Andromeda and I will make sure the are cared for," Grayson said, his hand on Severus's shoulder. Severus nodded his appreciation, acknowledging the look in everyone's eyes that said they would fight for him as well.
Severus returned to the Burrow to collect the children. When he entered, he looked for the twins where he had left them at the table. They were gone.

"The twins?" he asked Molly.

"They left the room right after you did. I thought they had followed you outside," she said, a worried expression forming on her face. "I will go look for them," she said, taking off to search the house.

Severus cursed himself...and the twins. He didn't need this complication right now, or the delay. Suddenly, something on the long, rustic dinner table caught his eye. He approached the table, his eyes fixated on the object. As he neared it, he recognized it to be a prophecy orb. He hesitated, unsure of the implications, fully aware of the danger of prophecies, however; as his mind held no foreboding that the object held an inauspicious significance, he reached out and lifted the orb. He noticed that others had gathered around him in silence. A blue light flickered in the orb, as if beckoning him to reveal its secret. He held it up in front of him with both hands and peered into its depths.

'He walked alone...towards the other side of the lake. He was walking on top of the water, the waves lapping at his heels. He looked down...he wasn't alone after all. It was Godric, in the form of a sea creature, propelling him through the waves. Inferi and Merpeople fought each other in the depths underneath them...evidently the cause of the waves.
He looked into Godric's large black shiny eye...it was all in there...the truth...It would all be worth it...all of the loss, the time, the sacrifice...if he could just make it to the other side...she was waiting. He saw her there...on the bank...surrounded by love and light...friends and family alike.  Their eyes met each other's...he felt it into his heart...his stomach fluttering...his face flushing. All that stood in his way was a faceless figure...shrouded and twisted by evil and hate. Severus drew his wand...summoning all magic that was in and about him. The waves rose...the wind carrying violent sprays of brackish water. He whipped his arm forward with all that was in him, his wand sending a stream of light, all of the magic, love and hope of a man and a wizard fighting for all coursing through it.

The orb grew dark...it's secret revealed...an ending unrevealed. Perhaps the ending was yet unknown, even in prophecy, Severus thought. But one thing was certain, he and Sirana would be there at the end, and somehow, he was at peace with that knowledge.
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