Perhaps Another Time, Severus [A Severus Snape Fanfiction]

2001

2001

The Order had seen many successful raids and even managed to track and corner Greyback on his way to Malfoy Manor. The cells of Azkaban were filling rapidly and the balance of forces had started to shift. Voldemort himself had taken up residence in the Manor and was hardly ever off the premises. He and his snake remained hidden from the world. 

Narcissa and Draco Malfoy had become ghosts, fleeing their own home. The shift in power, along with the loss of Lucius, gave them the chance to slip from Voldemort’s shadow. The Order didn’t seek them out and they did not cause trouble in return.

Severus had become the only real confidant Voldemort had left and even he was not loyal. Shaylah continued to attend the meetings, though now it was only the three of them and they had become less frequent. However, a smoldering fire had been burning and would soon reignite.

The Order had continued to move houses every week, with Morgan scouting ahead. Though Voldemort’s inner circle had depleted, lower ranking individuals still joined constantly hoping to gain some of the power that had become synonymous with his name. These individuals took pride in hunting the Order and had picked off several of them.

Morgan arrived at Headquarters one morning after scouting out more places, a smile plastered across her face. “I’ve got the next location.” she said cheerfully, “and a man stopped me at a coffee shop and said Griffon invited him to join. I gave him our location.”

Vex and Shaylah exchanged glances. “Who’s Griffon?” Asked Shaylah. “Sorry, you know I’m atrocious with names.”

“He joined about a week ago.” Vex stated. “The guy with the scar down his cheek.” Shaylah had seen him but she hadn’t spoken to him. He was about her age and he did indeed have an awful scar that ran from above his left eyebrow down over his cheek. It looked as if it had healed horribly, the coloring of the healed skin was blotchy and uneven. If he had explained how he got it, she hadn’t heard the story.

“If you told someone where to find us you put us all in danger, no matter who they said they might know.” said Prix. 

“Where’s the next spot? We have to move.” Shaylah said urgently. “Vex, go get the others.”

Vex hurried from the room and Brawn who had been standing with his arms crossed waved his wand, the sound of clattering trunks coming from their resting places echoed through the tiny house. “How could you be so gullible?” He said gruffly toward Morgan.

“He said he knew one of us, I didn’t question it.” Morgan whined as she hid her face in her hands. The others filtered into the room and gathered around their trunks. Several pieces of furniture were turned over and bottles thrown and shattered. It was their calling card each time they left a place abandoned. 

“It’s fine, we just need to go. Where’s the next spot?” Shaylah asked urgently. Before Morgan could answer the door was blown from its hinges, it flew across the small living room where they were gathered, narrowly missing Brawn’s head. 

“Griffon!” A voice bellowed from the other side of the haze. Several shadows stood in the doorway as the dust settled and the scar faced man came from behind Shaylah to join them. 

As he took his place next to the newly arrived threat that dwelled in the doorway Griffon spoke, his wand pointed at Brawn. “I’ve been tracking you for a long time, you killed my brother in Hogsmeade.” Shaylah opened her mouth to defend Brawn but Griffon turned his wand on her. “You were there too, you’re just as guilty. I found a bunch of friends with grudges against the Order.” His thumb flew over his shoulder at the silhouettes behind him, their features hidden by the harsh morning sun that filtered down on them.