Perhaps Another Time, Severus [A Severus Snape Fanfiction]

2000

2000

Another uncomfortable meeting had proven fruitful, though Shaylah still had to compress the fury she carried with her. That part hadn't become any easier. She had attended multiple meetings now, and Voldemort himself had granted her orders to continue Severus' work on tracking the Order while his right hand was sent on a new mission. Which was the perfect situation. She would get them close, to retain the illusion of the hunt, but the Order would always be one step ahead, as they always seemed to be.

Severus didn't tell her what it was he was sent to do, not for privacy but because he was sure Shaylah didn't want to know. She no longer pried but waited for him to divulge the information he deemed relevant, the less she knew, the easier it was. He still met with Voldemort privately, outside of the meetings she was expected to attend, tending to his own role as he always had.

Vex had already moved the Headquarters when it was raided, nothing left behind but broken potion bottles and scraps of parchment with no hints as to where they had gone, as if they had left in a hurry. Luckily, the lower level followers sent to accompany her on the errand had been too caught in their own disappointment to notice the relieved smirk she smothered before slamming her foot into the nearby table, playing on the role attached to the face she wore.

The regret in her voice when she informed the Dark Lord of their failure took a massive amount of concentration, lowering her head and wincing as Voldemort shouted. She had distracted them as long as she could, taking side streets and looming in alleys too long, feigning being lost. In truth, she was thrilled, it had all worked out exceptionally.

The Headquarters had been moved to a completely Muggle suburb, a neat brick house that mirrored its neighbors. They could apparate from within its walls, and only Vex and Prix were ever seen leaving, putting on the front of a lovely couple who had just moved in.

When Christmas brought the heavy snow and warm feeling of goodwill towards men, they decorated the outside of the house to bring luck and remind them that there was still hope. Vex even put a tree in the window, the soft glow providing a cozy feeling to their new home.

"Seventeen more this month," Vex said, pushing his glasses up higher on his nose, "That's not bad."

Shaylah nodded, "And none of us have been hurt. We've been very lucky."

Prix entered the room with a tray of tea and three cups floating in front of her. "Brawn is still planning to go after Snape," she said as the tray sat gently on the table in front of them and she picked up a cup, taking a sip.

"He can't think that's a good idea," said Shaylah, "We can't lose him too."

Vex nodded, "I'll talk to him. Besides, we know it was Lucius who killed Cross and not Snape. I don't know why he won't accept that. I know Snape's wretched, but he didn't kill Cross." He picked up his own cup, sipping it as he leaned back. Just as hearing the slander of herself and the others had never gotten easier, the same was true for hearing her peers gnash Severus' name between their teeth.

Shaylah picked up her own drink, cradling it in her palms, the warmth burning her frigid fingertips. Vex had figured it out on his own with hints that she had dropped along the way, as she pretended to try to help him piece together what happened to Cross. She couldn't help but feel relieved when it was Lucius who they sought to destroy and not Severus. Though his name was not completely vindicated, the blame for Cross' death had been appropriately placed.

If they only knew how much he had helped them, they would undoubtedly feel different but they would never know. Just like the narrow line that Shaylah now walked, they would never know exactly what laid on the other side. They would never know how much they owed their enemy.