Exceptions [Open]

[SEVERUS SNAPE]

It was getting harder and harder for Severus Snape to report to the Order of the Phoenix. The resistance was waning and the Dark Lord was beginning to feel as though a Spy was no longer needed. To be honest the Death Eaters far out-numbered those who were still willing to fight. The intelligent ones had gone into hiding while others had just given up and turned themselves in, either getting killed as a result or Marked as a fellow supporter. To make matters even worse, there wasn't much that Severus could say without raising any suspicious eyebrows in the process and Dumbledore was adamant that he protect his true loyalties for as long as possible.

Pretty soon there wouldn't be a reason for him to continue visiting Grimmauld Place. He might have to go completely into Death Eater mode again and he wasn't entirely sure if he could take himself back out as he had done in the past. It was getting harder to manage his boxes. He was losing himself...

Severus paused outside of Number Twelve and took a deep breath. On the bright side, this building felt much like Hogwarts had to him. The castle had been a place of solitude for Snape; an area where he could be his true self and not have to worry about maintaining his Occlumency shields as heavily as he did while he skirted the edge. While Hogwarts hadn't changed his personality completely, it had done much for him. It saddened him to think that the school was just ruins now; that sooner or later the Dark Lord would rebuild it in the 'proper' image. Grimmauld Place had the same effect on Severus now. It was the only safe place left for him. He even sometimes used it as sort of hide-out until his Mark burned again and he was forced to put on his mask once more. He was so very tired of this game...

The Order was not as busy as it had been. The meetings were sporadic at best because members couldn't stay long. As a matter of fact, Snape was lucky that he had actually been able to talk to Dumbledore the last few times he had come in for a report. Severus sighed before he finally entered. There was a palpable quietness to the place, as if everyone inside was attending a funeral. Strangely enough the former Potions Master relished in the sensation. It was nice just to get away from the war for a while. It seemed that he had arrived at a bad time though; there was no one else there on the first floor and he didn't really feel like investigating the other levels so he assumed the rest of Grimmauld Place was empty too. He moved into the living room, where he soon sat down in an armchair and light up one of his precious cigarettes.

---

Tag: Open
Words: 482
Location: Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place; Living Room
Notes: ---

[KYROS TREZIO]

Kyros and Hermione spun through the air at a dizzying pace, finally landing strangely gracefully on the pavement outside Number 12 Grimmauld Place, London. The two relatively young adults looked around to see whether any Muggles noticed them arriving, seemingly out of thin air. To Kyros’s relief, there was no Muggles, or witches or wizards of any allegiance around to see them walk up the steps towards the black door of the Orders HQ. At the top of the stairs, Kyros looked back at the street and surveyed every single detail. From the trees to the signs in peoples windows telling visitors to go elsewhere, he noticed nothing out of place from a normal – albeit petrified – Muggle street. It was still relatively early in the morning anyway, so it was hardly going to be packed to the brim with Muggles going to and fro their daily business.

Kyros led Hermione through the large door to the multi-tiered house and whipped out his wand. ‘Homenum Revelio’ he muttered barely above the volume of a whisper. A rush of wind flew back towards him, directing him towards the living room of the once great, now rundown house. Kyros’s eyes narrowed as he turned his head to Hermione and nodded his head towards where someone was stationed. He flung his mind out towards the being, determined to find out their intentions, whether good or ill, and he was met with a solid, protective wall. Kyros only knew of three people, other than himself, who could put up such a good barrier around their minds: Albus Dumbledore, Lord Voldemort and Severus Snape.

By deducing that Lord Voldemort could not enter Grimmauld Place, he surmised it would be Albus or Severus sitting in the front room. Keeping his wand to his side, he walked into the living room and pointed his wand at the intruder, and this particular intruder was Severus Snape. Kyros lowered his wand and inclined his head at the man that he had met during his Death Eater meetings; he, like Kyros, was a double agent. He was unsure that Severus was a true Death Eater like himself, so he had never really trusted him. ‘Severus.’ Kyros said in a bored tone, looking around the room. ‘Are you alone?’ He said, not thinking. Suddenly, he remembered that he had just been told by his spell that the only living thing in the house, apart from a few creatures such as spiders, was Snape. Kyros shook his head. ‘Never mind. Have you got any news?’ He was, of course, talking of the Orders plans. Whether they had changed, succeeded or failed. Whether there were any fatalities on either side or breakthroughs in the Dark Lords defences, or indeed the Orders’. ‘Hermione and myself have been out of touch for almost a month.’

[HERMIONE GRANGER]

Being led through the door to HQ Hermione felt herself become more flighty than she had anticipated. This was the same reaction she had every time she came to the home of Sirius Black. The escaped and still hunted man had hidden away within these very walls for years after the fall of the order, many people had taken to hiding within their own homes. She was not so lucky and survived long enough to settle herself into her seventh year. However with the impending doom and damage to the school there was no way she was going to make herself work hard enough to pass her subjects. Om truth she needed to constantly remind Ronald and Harry to study as her own study method. when she revised she was happy, when they revised she got extra work done. It was a never ending cycle of work and studying, essays and footnotes. long boring lectures copied out by hand and researching the latest up to date spell or potion. Hermione was never short of information swimming through her brain.

But since her fourth year it became ever more increasingly difficult to even contemplate studying. Whenever she stepped through the threshold of this particular house she was reminded of the fact that they had lost, the light. they had failed to protect the life of an innocent child and in the same process managed to halt any and all success, shatter their beliefs and abandon all hope in surviving the war with anything short of the purest bloodlines. the only safe ones were those in the Dark Lords inner circle. And even then the risk of a quick Killing Curse was always prominent.

However, with her wand at the ready, she watched with heady anticipation as the double agent waited for any sign of life, being indicated toward the living area. As the house remained under the Fiddelus Charm by Albus Dumbledore himself there was little chance of a random Death Eater making their way into the building. However, one could never be too sure. What with all the sporadic attacks on muggle villages it would not be within their lack of benefit had they raided the home. There were few things of sentimental value but ... as a Black family home there were many trinkets of great monetary value that to someone like Mundungus Fletcher - a known Order member who found his kleptomania to get the better of him - would possibly cause them a cardiac arrest.

"Professor." She said curtly upon entering the room, wand still drawn and being rubbed between her fingers of her right hand as she looked at the man who for a great many years had been a comfort within the imagination of her own mind. His ever sarcastic and coarse self never changing no matter the situation, always looking down that rather dashing nose of his ... For some reason or another Hermione Granger had harbored a rather large crush on her old Potions Professor, stemming right back from her third year when he covered for Professor Lupin in Defence Against the Dark Arts class. From the year he attempted to save them all from Lupin after he failed to take a dosage of Wolvesbane ... he had physically created a barrier between a raging werewolf and three students who believed he found them the bane of his existence.

They were rather egotistical after all in their youth.

Now however, that she herself remained static and hard on the outside she found her imagination running wild. The calm and stony exterior could hide a great many things, of which Hermione in all her great wisdom and thirst for knowledge knew she could never pursue. Despite him being older than her he was also one of those who would be put in great danger was he known to be associating with her. Had a new Death Eater recruit heard he was seen speaking to a ... mudblood[

[/b] for no true reason of gathering information for the Dark Lord ... Hermione shuddered to think of the implications that would occur from such terrible thoughts.

"Kyros believed it better that we retrieve whatever information may be floating around now rather than attempting to contact albus or minerva via owl. I myself only attempt to gain insight once a month. The most updated i can be over the longest period of time with the fewest trips for my owl, the better." She said statically. Her voice a dull thrum of the musical tone she once had as a child. Then again, during the war, losing a childhood friend and being subjected to all manner of dangers would remove anyone from their childhood.[/blockquote][/blockquote][/center]

[SEVERUS SNAPE]

After a moment or two, Severus conjured a small crystal bowl for the ashes from his cigarette. He then removed the cancer stick from his mouth and tapped on the edge of it with his long index finger. His lips were soon around it again though as he relished in the rush of nicotine in silence. He never truly relaxed anywhere - not even here where he felt most comfortable - because he never knew who might interrupt him and he couldn't afford to be caught off-guard. It would do him no good for his weaknesses to be realized. And so, when he heard the door opening, his wand flew to his hand seemingly of its own accord. In reality Snape had fixed it to his right forearm in a sling that could be released with just a flick of his wrist. He was always prepared; always on the defensive.

He was also patient though. He waited in the semi-darkness of the living room for the visitors to acknowledge his presence first. He needed to know whether they were friend or foe beforehand (not that it really mattered either way, depending on his mind-set). He felt a spell whisper by him, which probably told his new guests that he was actually here... Severus then had the odd sensation of a slight presence gliding against his Occlumency shields and he pursed his lips somewhat. His defenses raised marginally. There were not many who so readily tested his barriers. A raised eyebrow was the only greeting Kyros had when the younger man finally entered the living room. Snape's wand dipped a bit, but he still held onto it more out of practice than anything else.

"Nothing new." His tone was neutral. There really wasn't much for him to report one way or another.

Obsidian eyes traveled over to Miss Granger as she addressed him by his former title. Sometimes it was hard for Severus to remember that he had actually been a Professor at one point... Deeming the two as somewhat trustworthy people (although he wasn't exactly sure where Kyros stood yet), he went back to his cigarette -- something that Snape usually only enjoyed alone due to the mixed reactions he had received in the past because of his 'nasty' habit. He gave a short nod of his head as Hermione went on to explain why they were there. He had guessed that much. The two were somewhat eager to know what had been happening in the month that they had been out of touch. It was only understandable...

"Well, unfortunately, I'm not the best person to come for updates." Severus said after a moment. "All I can tell you is what I already know."

---

Tag: Kyros; Hermione
Words: 450
Location: Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place; Living Room
Notes: ---

[HERMIONE GRANGER]

the voice of one Severus Snape had always held that air of authority that made Hermione fall apart at the seams, it was so magical the way his cadences made his students literally cling to the edge of their seats waiting in anticipation for him to finally give them the much sought after information.

Of course that may well have just been her. During her time in school Hermione was known for being a teachers pet, taking the idea of learning to a new level and in some cases working herself to distraction, being forced into the hospital wing for a dose of 'Pepper - up Potion' to keep her wake enough that she get some rest. She would always eagerly await her next potions class however, to listen to the voice of the gifted Severus snape was something of a pleasure and guilty secret. Everyone just thought she was far too dedicated to her work. Not that the teachers pet had a not so innocent crush on the potions master.

There was no denying it. She had found him attractive from those first moments when he burst through the doors of his potions classroom on their very first lesson. The way in which he carried himself, sweeping his way past the students and coming to a stop only to seemingly fold into himself ... and the sheer level of knowledge he retained in his brain ... It was one of the few things she as an adult remained jealous about.

Making no comment for now on the cigarette that the professor held between his fingers, the young muggle born walked slowly and carefully toward a single high backed armchair. Her wand remaining steady in her hand as she tentatively lowered herself onto the thick leather seat. One could never be too careful as a muggle born in a pureblood home. She could still remember the first time she walked past that dreadful portrait in the hallway, curtains draped over the image of Walburga Black. A dreadful woman who held no qualms about speaking her mind against the 'filth' that traipsed around her home. She and Professor Lupin were the hardest hit with comments, although many order members were titled 'blood traitors' by the hideous woman.

Yet no matter how hard she or anyone else tried, no-one could remove the aged woman from the wall. "Believe me professor, whatever you have been informed of is far more than I." Hermione said softly, lowering her head to look down at her lap, a frown playing on her face as she recounted how many times she received notices that "All is well" ... if she received that same owl one more time ... "After all, there is little one can convey in an owl less than five words long." She added spitefully. It was her own fault that things had become so detached. But that did not mean she was going to be happy with the arrangement.

[KYROS TREZIO]

As they were both converging on the living room of the dark and miserable house that was the Orders headquarters, he noticed that Hermione had her wand drawn also. Kyros and Hermione were both magically skilled and prominent in the art of spell casting enough to hold their own against anyone but the Dark Lord himself, so he was pretty confident that whoever was inside the room, they could handle it. After they entered and found out it was Severus Snape, also double agent for the Order/Death Eaters, they both lowered their wands, but not completely; it would not do to trust that someone was who they appeared on the surface. Hermione backed up Kyros by stating that he thought it was best that they find out whatever information they can, no matter how trivial; Kyros was a little annoyed that Hermione did not express her wish for information also, almost coming across as if she was bullied into coming to Grimmauld Place.

Looking back at his old Potions professor, Kyros was not surprised to see that the only welcome he received was a raised eyebrow; the two of them had never really gotten on, whether it was inside the dungeons at Hogwarts, or around the Dark Lords table. Snape always seemed to have an air of superiority over Kyros, as if he didn’t deem him worthy of such a dangerous and important task. Admittedly, if he were in Snapes position of being older and much more experienced, he probably would have the same attitude, but it was never a good thing to underestimate Kyros and his abilities.

‘Nothing?’ Kyros said after hearing Snape say that he did not know anything new and that he could tell them nothing but what he already knew. Kyros walked over towards the fireplace and lit it with a lazy flick of his wand. The charred logs in the centre of the fire burst into flame and spread warmth into the whole room. Kyros leaned against the mantel piece as Hermione looked at her old professor with a strange glint in her eyes and then walked over to a chair and tentatively sat down. Kyros had to suppress a grin as he knew exactly why she was acting tentative. ‘No news is good news, I suppose.’ He sighed, regaining his composure.

Hermione told Snape that whatever he knew was probably more than she knew, and Kyros had to agree: he had been out of contact with anyone from the Order for almost a month, and a lot can happen in a month. Letting the sound of crackling embers be the only sound in the room for a moment or two, Kyros then backed up Hermione’s plea. ‘We have been out of the loop for far too long.’ He said, looking directly at Snape. ‘So whatever you do know would be of great use to us. What of Dumbledore? What of the other Order members hidden away? Are they all safe? And above all, why are you here?’ Kyros smirked slightly at Snape, wondering whether his answers would be as flawless as they usually were.

[SEVERUS SNAPE]

Severus made no comment as Miss Granger walked slowly - almost tentatively - towards a rather large armchair and then sat. He puffed on his cigarette in silence. He blinked a couple of times when Kyros suddenly lit a fire, but he remained as impassive as ever; not caring either way what the other two youngsters did. This was not his house, after all, so he couldn't very well order them about. He blew out some smoke before removing the dreg from his lips and tapping on the edge of it again to get rid of the ashes that had collected upon it. Snape raised an eyebrow again at Granger's spiteful words about only being able to receive so much from an owl.

In a way, although he hated to admit it for it meant that he was starting to care about yet another human being (never a good thing in Severus's opinion), he was growing concerned about the bushy-haired girl. She used to pride herself on being what he had termed a 'know-it-all' and now she was out of the loop. She didn't know what was going on and the scant information she had gotten was not enough for her. She had no one to blame but herself for her continuing detachment from everyone, but Severus was beginning to wonder if perhaps her recent attitude was something much more serious... Of course anyone with enough brains would be depressed under the Dark Lord's new reign of terror and Granger had more right to that than anyone else since she had lost one of her best friends in the war. Again, Snape felt that guilty squirm in the pit of his stomach. He had pledged to protect Potter above all costs and look where it got him.

Severus stubbed out his cigarette in the crystal bowl before vanishing the whole lot of it with a simple flick of his wand. Another flick and the eleven inch long piece of wood slid up the sleeve of his robe. He had the ability to access his weapon quickly enough so he wasn't afraid of presenting himself as defenseless at the moment; besides, these two were supposed to be his comrades... right? He leaned back in his chair, the old furniture creaking somewhat at his movement.

"I do not know where Dumbledore is. I've not seen him since I was last here, which was about a month ago the same as you." He drawled out. "As for the others... they all checked in so I'm assuming they are still safe... or as safe as they can be, at any rate." He shrugged his thin shoulders.

He had to be careful about what he said in front of Kyros. He knew the younger man was also a double-agent, like himself, and that meant that he had to watch his tongue more closely. He didn't want to give Kyros valuable information (which might make it to the Dark Lord later on) so he couldn't reveal as much as he wanted to. He wasn't sure where Kyros stood yet; whether the other was Dumbledore's man or just a Death Eater pretending to be... In response to this dilemma, Severus was on his guard and his answers were as cryptic as they were flawless. Had it just been Granger - whom he knew did not have the Mark - then he might have been a bit more forthcoming. Might have, mind you.

"Why do you think I'm here? I need information just like everybody else. I must also speak with Dumbledore. I was rather hoping he would be here, he usually comes about this time of the month, but apparently the old fool likes me to keep guessing when he'll arrive." Dumbledore was as unpredictable as the bloody Dark Lord at times. Merlin, his mentor was going to drive him insane one of these days; Snape just knew it.

---

Tag: Kyros; Hermione
Words: 647
Location: Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place; Living Room
Notes: ---

[HERMIONE GRANGER]

Though she disagreed with the sentiment that 'no news means good news' due to the high probability that no news could perhaps mean terrible news ... mainly death; Hermione remained silent from her seat. Tucking leg under her and keeping her toes down against the seat, thus giving her the chance to push off and run if need be. There was optimism that made people believe in good news, but Hermione lost all optimism in her seventh year. Lost it when she was told by Dumbledore that she was to go into hiding to protect herself from the Death Eaters that now held almost all the power in the Wizarding World.

There were times when she contemplated simply moving into the muggle world, but recent times showed that not even the innocent and defenseless muggles stood a chance against the prejudice of the Death Eaters. that they were also targeted by those who felt they were far above them simply because of their blood lines being kept within certain magical families. Was it her fault that she was born of muggles? No, was it her parents fault that they birthed a witch? of course not! However some people in this world believed it better to cull those that they deemed 'unworthy' of magic that should belong to them. As if killing off muggle Born's would make them stronger! It was almost a laughable thought.

Then again, she was not one who would put a dampener on anyones mood could she avoid it. Merlin knew there was enough gloom around the Order HQ to last a lifetime. Generations of pure blood doctrines had literally seeped into the walls. It was uncomfortable just sitting in the building for long periods of time. Paranoia made her worry over every item, wondering if the books on the shelves or the quilt behind the seat would jump up in an attempt to curse her into oblivion.

In her silence, the brown eyed girl listened to the statement containing the questionable whereabouts of the Headmaster himself. Of course the old manipulative fool would keep his locations to himself, why should he tell anyone anything until the very last minute before they are thrown head first into danger? Of course that was the most obvious thing to do. "He always did enjoy keeping all information a secret." Her voice was harsh and thick, not the sound one would expect from a young woman still not yet reaching her twenties. But there was nothing soft about her now. Not her voice, not her thoughts, her fantasies of taking down death eaters in ways that would make Alistair Moody cringe and recoil in disgust. Her disposition was not of a school girl aiming for the highest grade. No, now she was a woman trying to survive in a world that very clearly wanted her dead.

"Well at least I can be safe in the knowledge neither of you seem to have anything to share from your end of the stick. I do not even know why I bother with Order meetings any more. Keeping myself hidden is the only reason I seem to remain with the order itself, it isn't like I can be put forth for missions or the like." There. She had said it. Hermione Granger felt useless compared to the more active members of the order. The pure and half blood families that remained loyal to the side of light over the years were known to go to and from missions of information and perhaps even recruiting other magical beings. It was still certain that, with the exception of Professor Lupin that the werewolves were on the side of the Dark Lord. most of them followed the lead of Fenrir Greyback. Yet when her existence revolved around her being stuck in her safe house for perhaps weeks at a time without leaving, it was quite obvious that her assistance, other than the occasional research needing done, was not needed nor was it wanted.

At times she wondered if Dumbledore simply kept her safe due to her being 'the brightest witch of her age' or of her once relation to the late Harry Potter. Either way there was indeed no other reason that she saw for him to protect her. There were countless other muggleborns much like her that did not have the same assistance that she had. Nor did they stand any chance against the Death eaters come the time their whereabouts was found. It was a dangerous world now. One that she wished she could sometimes forget completely. But the loss of her magic she knew would be too much to bear.

"is there any news on any more attacks? I do not even receive the prophet any more. I cannot keep up with the publicized death toll. it would be too risky to have an owl visit me weekly at regular times with a paper to get it. And with the floo disconnected ... I just need something to keep my mind occupied." She mumbled uncertainly, raising her hand to rub her ear softly, a nervous habit that she had developed from her school years. It was both annoying and soothing, keeping her calm and removing quite a bit of anxiety that came from simply fidgeting for long periods of time.

When she sat her exams during that stressful time, managing still to complete most of her N.E.W.T.s with O's she found that the action had given her some sort of boost of moral when she felt low. Ronald and Ginny had became more distant from her, giving her what she assumed was space while they as a family comforted each other.

That was the problem with being an only child. Or as the scenario was now, an orphan. There was no-one to actually comfort her when she felt the need to simply curl into a ball and sob for hours, no-one to whisper soothing words in her ear of rub her back. When she was younger her mother would take to brushing the long untamable hair to calm her. her father would rub her arm, affectionately ... now she had no-one. She was alone in this world apart from her familiars. And no witch truly wished to be seen as only keeping animals for company. Madness and cat ladies was not a stereotype that stayed within the muggle world.

Hermione had found the solitude of her house deafening now that, having read all books she could attain she had found reading material scarce and somewhat ... lackluster. "Where it possible that I could gain access to more texts i would not need such remedial things to entertain my thoughts. But I have not been able to even set my hands on a book for the longest of time. I sometimes worry that I shall go mad from lack of stimulation of the mind!" She spoke hesitantly, looking up at her old Professor with the slightest shade of pink staining her normally ivory skin. She had never asked the man directly about anything since she was in his classroom and for a frightening moment she believed he would simply sneer in her direction and remind her of her 'insufferable know-it-all' elements that had once been such a pain in school. Then again, if he did it would make no difference to her. She was used to the bitter smell of disappointment.

[KYROS TREZIO]

After asking his questions, Kyros continued to lean against the mantel piece with a cold demeanour, which was somewhat ironic due the fact his legs were being nicely warmed up by the growing inferno beside his legs. As the silence reigned before either of his companions spoke, Kyros looked around the room they were in; aside from the fireplace he was standing directly next to, there were no other fixed fittings. There were two chairs, both of which were occupied, and a giant painting plastering the opposite wall. The painting was of a countryside that looked familiar to Kyros, it contained a great number of trees, a storm cloud in the sky and the backdrop was of a village bustling with activity. A painting such as that in a house with so much dark history behind it was a little strange, but it was appropriate to the house.

After a full five minutes of silence, Kyros looked back at Snape as he was just stubbing out his cigarette in a crystal bowl. Kyros did not know that his former Potions Master smoked, but then again, he had only seen him inside his lessons before “joining” the Order. Eventually Snape replied, and Kyros nodded along with his statement, as well as with Hermione’s summarisation that Dumbledore held back information. ‘He does like to keep some information, however trivial or vital, to himself. Does he not realise that the more information we have available, the easier we will be able to do our jobs?’ Kyros’s face was contorted into a look of disgust, which was perfect; he was disgusted at the very existence of Dumbledore and would dearly love to end the old mans reign, but it appeared to Snape and Hermione that he was merely annoyed at the fact that Dumbledore was so secretive.

Listening to Snape’s reason for being in the Orders’ Headquarters, Kyros almost rolled his eyes. ‘So you have seen no one but Hermione and me since you arrived?’ He snorted. ‘And you decide to just...wait? Wait for the impossible and for Dumbledore to just turn up? That could be weeks, even months going by his past form. I dare not ask how long you have been here, sitting in the dark with your cigarettes.’ Shaking his head, Kyros looked away and listened to Hermione. He thought he could hear her brain whirring and ticking as a million thoughts whistled through her brain. After she finished, Kyros looked at Hermione and uttered a sigh. ‘First of all,’ He said in a slightly bored tone. ‘None of us have had any important jobs or tasks for a while. The Order has to keep a low profile to prevent being wiped out by the larger and more powerful Death Eaters.’ He softened his look, realising that he was being too mean to fit his cover. ‘We must all keep a low profile, at least the moment, or we will be overrun, overpowered and what we stand for will be doomed.’

At Hermione’s question on whether there have been any attacks or even fatalities recently, Kyros nodded his head. ‘I have heard of one.’ Kyros then recounted the mass murder of a wizarding family from Ireland. One of them was a former Hogwarts student, and his mother and father were also victims of the assault. Kyros only gave brief, necessary details, but in reality he could give a personal account of the attack as he was one of four who attended and tortured the trio. A spark of pleasure ran through his body as he remembered the events, but he did not let his emotion spread to his expression, which stayed sombre. ‘The Finnigan’s, I’m not sure whether you knew them, Hermione, Severus.’ He bowed his head at Snape and then looked away as if he was upset, but he could have laughed out loud with joy. At Hermione’s request for reading material, Kyros shrugged: ‘I’m not sure, this is not my house, and nor do I have access to a library.’ He thought for a moment. ‘But this is a large house, even by most rich pureblood standards. I’m sure it has a library of some kind, I’m sure if you ask Sirius or have a look around yourself, you will find what you desire.’

[SEVERUS SNAPE]

"Indeed."

Apparently both of them agreed with him that Dumbledore kept far too much information away from the rest of the Order; trivial and vital alike, as Kyros had said. Severus knew some more of the older man's secrets than most. He demanded answers after Potter was murdered for he had need of something to ground him and hold onto before he lost himself. His trust in the former Headmaster of Hogwarts was slightly shaken as a result of what he had learned, but he continued to Spy because that was the only thing he knew how to do these days. He sneered somewhat when Hermione mentioned the Prophet.

"I wouldn't put much trust in what the papers report." The Prophet was being run by Death Eaters for the most part, just like the Ministry of Magic. The Dark Lord was quickly taking control of the whole world, not just England. "Also, for your information, Kyros, I only arrived just a few minutes ago. Do you have a problem with my relaxing for the precious moments that I am able to? Or the fact that I smoke?" He raised an eyebrow at the insensitive brat.

Severus then pursed his lips when Miss Granger next asked whether there had been any attacks or deaths recently. The purse was the closest Snape would ever get to a frown due to the multiple masks he had woven around himself. He glanced over to Kyros as the younger man stated that the Finnigans had been wiped out. A slight sneer went across his face at the sound of his first name being uttered. He believed in only letting those who knew him well or who he considered friends to call him 'Severus;' otherwise he preferred to be addressed as simply 'Snape.' He didn't exactly have a title anymore so it was pointless to pin one on himself.

"Were either of you here during the last meeting?" He asked at length, deciding that this question beforehand would be the safest route to go with another Death Eater in the room.

He was surprised at Hermione's request for reading material and a small smirk went across his lips at the words for it reminded him much of how she had been back at Hogwarts... Perhaps he could entice her to do some research and give her something to do so she was not just bumbling about in the dark. Severus inclined his head somewhat, knowing exactly how the younger girl felt. He, too, wondered if he was going mad; not from lack of stimuli, but rather because of too much. Severus had enough to deal with these days and as a matter of fact had probably taken on more than he could chew...

"Kyros is right. If it's a library you're looking for then this is the best place you'll probably find. Grimmauld Place has many ancient treasures; perhaps, with a bit of help, you may even find something that will turn this war in our favor. Black once showed the library to me so I can tell you how to get there or even show you later if you'd like."

---

Tag: Kyros; Hermione
Words: 519
Location: Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place; Living Room
Notes: ---

[HERMIONE GRANGER]

Sighing heavily and leaning back against the chair, Hermione ran a hand over the front of her face, rubbing it softly and letting out a small groan. She knew that there was going to be new ideas over missions, but she never heard that the others had all but halted them in the mean time! It would however explain the lackluster responses to her owls from Albus and Minerva. Their constant string of 'all is well' did seem rather uninformative but if there was no information ... at all ... What a fool she felt. A selfish, pitiless fool.

Of course the same could be said of informing her that the missions where for a time being halted. It would mean less worrying over the other members - of which she did frequently - and giving herself far less of hard time over not being able to leave the safe house! Damnit she felt nothing more than dead weight sitting alone in the blasted building day in and day out, who was there to say that she be useless. Surely there must have been something that they could have put her to use over. Something! even if it be translating short ancient runic scripts! After all, an O in her N.E.W.T.s on the subject must be accountable for something! But Hermione would never voice her upset over how she felt Albus was leaving her in the dark purposely. Nor would she let anyone believe that she was having doubts over whether she would live to see 30. The chances of her actually living in a world like this was almost impossible. she could never go out to meet someone, nor would she ever be able to go out on a date.

There would be no relationships ... no weddings ... no children ... nothing that she had once envisioned in her future was likely to come true. No. She was a muggle born. A powerful one, but a muggle born. And in the end that was all that mattered to those in power. To them she was nothing but vermin, lower than the dirt that they walked on during their raids. Her blood was dirty to them ... and so was she.

For years she put up with the name mudblood hearing it on almost a daily basis, but now that the word held a threat behind it the meaning was far more obvious. Those who dubbed her a mudblood would not even give her the chance to get away before killing her dead on the spot. Much in the same way she found her own muggle parents dead in her childhood home. The thought caused the young witch to physically shudder. She detested recounting such a memory, it always made her forehead crease with worry lines and made her mind drift away if for a moment. She became vulnerable. However short a time it was.

"I was led to believe missions were as they had been. Like I said, little can be expressed with a sentence of less than five words." With a hardened expression, she looked back to the two males occupying the room and felt her expression drop at the mention of the attack. 'Seamus ...' "Oh god ..." She said, her voice no longer than a gentle whisper. Raising a hand to her face again she furiously rubbed over her eyes and nose, as if somehow attempting to scrub the thought from her mind. she knew it was useless however, once a bit of information had settled itself in her head there was no removing it. It was just ... difficult to hear that yet another one of her classmates had been killed. "Um ... yes. Seamus was in Gryffindor with me." Swallowing heavily she forced herself to remain calm. She would not let someone see her as a broken little girl. Crying and sobbing in front of two powerful double agents was most definitely not the way to let herself be seen. Especially seen as she somehow ... could not find the tears to cry.

"I helped him study in potions. He was useless, Merlin save him but he was. You must remember him professor ... he blew up his potion on his first day. I think we were only adding crushed beetle to a non volatile liquid. I can't even remember what It was anymore ... but he managed to make his blow up. I remember the room stank after that." With a short little huff of a laugh, Hermione brought her arms back around herself. A comforting sensation of sorts. She was never good with the comforting part of being a girl. The only girls she had ever been around were Ginny and Lavender brown ... the Patil sisters never liked her and as it turned out Lavender only liked her to get to Ronald. Ginny had drifted away after Harry's death. Leaving Hermione once again alone, waiting for something to come her way white she furiously studied for her exams.

Giving her old professor a embarrassed frown she shook her head at the question over whether she had been at the last order meeting. "I was not informed of when the last meeting was so no, I was not there. I only get monthly updates via owl from either albus or minerva. And they are rather less than useful." She was upset over the thought that she had missed yet another Order meeting. it was not the first time and would most definitely not be the last that meant she was out of another loop. She was by now used to the lack of communication coming to and from order members. The protean charmed piece of parchment was used only in emergencies between Dumbledore and herself and apparently order meetings were not the kids of emergencies that he felt were deemed important enough. "Since the last meeting I attended was in September I have only been notified of the orders well being twice. I do so wish sometimes that It was more but If that is all the Headmaster is willing to share with me then so be it." She spoke gently, shrugging one shoulder up slowly and looking down at her lap.

Twirling her wand absently in her hand, Hermione found that she was surprisingly accepting - albeit hurt - over having been left out of the last meeting. All it would take was one aparation to outside the back door and thinking very clearly 'The Headquarters for the Order of the Phoenix is at Number 12 Grimmauld Place.' and there she would be. However, apparently she was not deemed needed at the last meeting. "Why? have I missed something, Professor?"

The prospect of a library within the Headquarters was interesting ... it piqued the young woman's interest. Yet she was reminded of a simple fact. Some of the pureblood relic books were cursed against muggle-borns. She had read about it in Hogwarts: A History over why many of the muggle-born students were told to be extra vigilant when going through the more ancient tombs. As many of them had blood wards to prevent those of 'dirty blood' fingering through precious reading material. Phineas Nigellus Black was perhaps the biggest instigator of these books within the school. As a blood purist himself it was hard to imagine any muggle born trying to study under his rule. "I always believed there to be wards against muggle borns in this house. Merlin knows Lady Black is vocal enough about my blood status, I am always simply wary of there being curses attached to the library. I remember Sirius mentioning it once, a long time ago ... But i never dared venture there." The admission made her chuckle. She was afraid of the one thing that brought absolute comfort to her now.

However, the Professor did offer to show her it one day. that would of course be wonderful, and give her something to focus her mind on other than a rising death toll. Yet she did worry still. Perhaps it was residual worry that the puritanical members of the Ancient and Most Noble House of Black would show their true colours and finally get her ... She was so paranoid about this war it was going to kill her off. She was sure of it. "But if it would be alright with Sirius then I would love for you to show me at one time." she conceded. Letting the smallest of smiles tug at the corner of her mouth.

[KYROS TREZIO]

Kyros smiled innocently when Snape brought him up on his asking on why Snape was just sitting there, not doing anything else but smoking, as innocently as he could anyway. In reality, Kyros despised anyone who smoked. He believed it was a terrible habit and one that should be very firmly kicked out of you, but he mostly hated those who smoked in the presence of other people, and as such the other people who had to breathe in second hand smoke had to face the consequences later on in life, rather than just killing yourself. ‘Me? I have no problem at all. Who am I to dictate how you go about killing yourself?’ Kyros said nastily, commenting on the death stick that Snape had just inhaled, and deciding that to start an argument with a fellow Order and Death Eater member was not wise at all.

Kyros listened to Hermione tell them both a story about how the younger Finnigan family member, who was apparently in the same year as Hermione at Hogwarts, messed up his first Potions lesson with Snape. He supposed that this was a fond memory of the boy she knew, but he also couldn’t help cringe as she recalled the events. Kyros eyed Snape as he waited for the inevitable sneer that accompanied anyone failing to perform in one of his lessons, but it didn’t come. Instead, Snape’s face contorted into a sneer at the sound of Kyros using his first name. Ignoring him, Kyros turned his attention to Hermione, put on his best sympathetic face and apologised for her loss in a low voice.

Kyros shook his head at Snapes question as to whether they were at the last meeting. ‘No, I was...busy.’ Kyros said, making it plain that he was not with the Order at the time, but with the Death Eaters. ‘Why? Was there something said that I should know?’ He asked, looking suspicious at the fact that Snape did not just come out and say what he meant, rather than going about it the very long way. When Snape agreed with Kyros about the probability of a Library and Hermione stated that there was also probably a fair few wards placed in a house like the Blacks to prevent Mudbloods, or rather Muggleborns, to reveal its secrets, he nodded in apparently sadness. ‘It is true. Some books have been enchanted to become unreadable by anyone but a Pureblood, and also there are rumours of some Pureblood families locking doors magically and asking for a sample of blood before you are allowed to enter.’ He smiled. ‘Of course, none but one whose blood is pure is permitted to enter. It is rather jealous and mean, but it is what it is and it will probably never change.’ Kyros then decided to go and sit in the one remaining chair, which was had a good view of both Hermione and Snape. ‘But I’m sure if Snape is with you, you will be just fine.’ Resting his chin on his linked hands, he smiled nastily at them both with his implied double meaning.

[SEVERUS SNAPE]

As Granger spoke about Seamus Finnigan, who had been just as bad in Potions as Neville Longbottom had been, Snape just nodded his head briefly. Yes, he remembered the Irish boy; however, it did him no good to dwell on who else had been lost during this God-forsaken war. As a matter of fact, the only reason why Severus was still on a semi-functioning level was because he had so far refused to acknowledge or even register what had happened ever since Harry Potter was murdered. He could not allow himself to grieve; could not afford to feel the crushing guilt other than the occasional flashes he received before pushing it all away again; and he definitely couldn't fully accept that the only reason for his continued existence was dead and gone... The suicidal thoughts would take over with a vengeance, but Severus ignored them as he had always done with the things that he didn't want to have an adverse reaction towards.

Unfortunately for Severus Snape his usual coping methods were not working as well as they had in the past, but he had no idea what to do about it. He had been conditioned since his early childhood that reaching out for aide was frowned upon by the general society and he would only get hurt more as a result. The stress on his body, mind, and soul was taking a toll though. He wasn't sure how long he could keep playing this game without going insane in the process (assuming if that hadn't already happened yet anyway). It was obvious that the older man was not himself for he failed to respond to the nasty comment Kyros had made about his smoking. The sum of his reaction was a little furrow that appeared between his brows and that was all.

When both of the youngsters claimed that they had missed the last Order meeting, he bit his lip for a moment. Somehow this wasn't playing out like it had in his head; then again, that was the way things always went for him... "I'm not at liberty to discuss it." He chanced a quick glance towards Kyros before he closed the subject for good on his part.

It occurred to Severus that Hermione might have some problems even reading the books, something that the other Death Eater soon brought up. Many Purebloods had protected their wares against those of impure blood like Muggleborns and those who had been tainted through no fault of their own (such as a Werewolf). An almost-snort escaped his lips when Kyros said Hermione would be fine so long as he was with her. He doubted the books would open for him due to his half-Muggle heritage, but of course he couldn't say anything about that because if anyone discovered his true lineage then he would be pretty much screwed.

"I don't have enough time to go through a whole library. I would suggest you ask Black for assistance if you're truly interested. I feel sure the mutt needs something to do."

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Tag: Kyros; Hermione
Words: 505
Location: Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place; Living Room
Notes: ---

[HERMIONE GRANGER]

"Understood, Professor." Hermione said with a slow nod of her head, her brown hair falling from over her shoulder and tickling the side of her ever pale cheeks. The ivory sallow cheeks that showed what lack of sunlight and stimulation did to a once perfectly healthy and respected girl. However that was no longer the case, she held no life in her eyes nor any sign of passion in a rush of pink to her face. There was nothing much that remained of the headstrong girl who had willingly tried to take on a werewolf in her teen years. No, there was little of that left. "Had I known, i would have attended. But it is behind me now, and I am without a time-turner that powerful." Her pathetic attempt at a joke seemed to make the uneasy feeling she had within the room grow even worse. She practically squirmed under the intense harshness that the entire house seemed to throw her way. As if physically trying to make her sick enough to leave the property. It wouldn't even shock her now.

And yet, with a saddened sigh the young muggleborn sat back a little on the chair. Shifting in the seat so that she was more comfortable. Staying in the position she had been in was terrible uncomfortable. Then again, what was comfort in a time where her very existence was threatened?

"I see." She said very plainly, clearly thinking over the plausible options that swam around her head. where it any other time she could verbally talk herself through what should be the best plan of action. "If he permits me i may ask Sirius ... I have been itching to read something for so long." She said with a heaved sigh. There was no point in her conjuring a book to read, as the words made no sense. The books she owned were so thoroughly read she could almost completely recite them and at some point someone thought it would be funny to doodle in the margins of one of her books. It was far less read than the others, lewd pictures such as what was drawn made her uncomfortable. "But I do see your point professor. There are far more pressing matters to attend to of we could perhaps get a hold of Dumbledore." She said thoughtfully, placing her elbow on her knee and propping her head up against the balled up fist of her hand. "But I do so hate to hear you call him such terrible things. It sometimes feels no better than when Draco would call me Mudblood." She added, hiding her face from that of her old Potions master.