Mirrored Meetings

Chapter 2

Mirrored Meetings

Disclaimer: Severus and Hermione definitely belong to J.K. Rowling.

The meeting was eerily silent, for once. The attention of each member of the Order was focused intently on her. Hermione felt the heavy weight of their scrutiny and resisted the urge to squirm in her chair. She stared back levelly at Minerva McGonagall, leader of the Order.

“Where are Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley, Miss Granger?” The question was clipped, the tone accusatory.

Hermione closed her eyes and sighed heavily. She wished that she did know where they had disappeared to. She had waited for them at their pre-arranged location, a coffee shop deep in Muggle London. While waiting for her two cohorts, she had written out her research notes and wondered about Severus Snape. Could she have been that wrong about the man? She had admired him deeply and had trusted him implicitly.

The agreed upon time had passed with no sign of them. They had not sent her an alarm signal. She had surmised that they had stumbled upon an important lead, and followed it without her, typical. But, she wasn’t about to disclose that little bit of information to the Order; Harry had stressed the importance that their quest remain undisclosed. Hermione still couldn’t fathom why Albus Dumbledore would have insisted that their search for the Horcruxes be kept secret. Surely they would make better headway with help?

Hermione answered truthfully, “I don’t know where they are.” She bit her lip and waited for the inevitable recriminations.

An incredulous huff of disbelief echoed through the room. “That’s a record,” snorted Fred.

George must have felt the need to echo his twin, yet again. He added condescendingly, “Yeah, Hermione. Since when don’t you know the answer to a question?”

Minerva McGonagall whipped her head around to glare at them. “You two will be quiet. If you have nothing intelligent to add to this meeting, then get out.”

They ducked their heads to their chests in an amazing display of synchronicity, apparently remorseful. Hermione smiled bitterly; as if those two would ever be ashamed of their behaviour.

McGonagall noticed her smile and snapped, “This is no laughing matter, Miss Granger!”

“No, ma’am.” Her tone was appropriately demure and contrite.

“I would also like to know the nature of the task that Albus Dumbledore assigned Harry during the course of last year.”

This time, she had to lie. “I don’t know that, either.”

McGonagall’s lips thinned. “You were allowed early membership to the Order meetings last December, for the express reason that you are our direct link to Harry, the pivotal person in this war. You are supposed to aid us with his protection. Find them, Miss Granger. I need to know what they’ve been up to.” She stood and exited.

The rest of the Order followed, leaving Hermione alone. She slumped forward and rested her head on her arms. She was tired; the double role that she fulfilled, as an Order member and a Horcrux hunter, was taking its toll. Harry and Ron weren’t helping matters, running off and leaving her to face the Order by herself. It felt wrong, lying to McGonagall and the Order. They were all on the same side, weren’t they?

The meeting was silent, as always. The attention of each member of the Death Eaters was focused intently on him. Severus felt the heavy weight of their censure and maintained his ramrod posture. He stared back openly at Tom Riddle, the Dark Lord.

“Where is Harry Potter, Severus?” The question was clipped, the tone cold.

Severus resisted the urge to sigh. He wished that he did know where the brat had disappeared to. He had followed Hermione Granger to a coffee shop situated in Muggle London. He had watched her surreptitiously, taking the opportunity to admire her from a distance. She had written out reams of notes and stared into space, apparently lost in thought. He wondered what she had been thinking about.

Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley had never arrived. Hermione had not seemed particularly concerned. She probably had a good idea of where they may have gone, but he wasn’t about to disclose that fact to the Dark Lord; Dumbledore had stressed the importance of maintaining his cover shortly before his death, and Severus felt compelled to protect Hermione from any undue attention. He knew that they were searching for Voldemort’s remaining Horcruxes. They had not made much progress yet. His own, independent search had not yielded any results yet either.

Severus answered truthfully, “I don’t know where he is.” He glanced calmly around the table and waited for someone to challenge his statement; one of them was always stupid enough to do so.

A snicker echoed through the room. “Yeah, right,” wheezed Amycus.

Alecto must have felt the need to echo her twin, yet again. She jeered, “Yeah, Hell’s gonna freeze over; Snape doesn’t know the answer to a question.”

Voldemort tilted his head towards them and narrowed his crimson eyes. “You two will be silent. If you do not heed my words, then I will make sure that you will never have the chance to say anything, ever again.”

They nodded stupidly, apparently understanding their precarious situation. Severus sneered inwardly; as if fuckwit and halfwit would ever have anything intelligent to say.

He must have missed the vermin’s smirk at the reprimand, because Voldemort hissed angrily, “Would you like to test my patience, Wormtail?”

“No, my Lord,” Pettigrew whispered, twitching nervously.

“I would also like to know what Potter has been up to lately, Severus.”

This time, he had to lie. “I don’t know that either, my Lord. He hides his tracks well.”

Voldemort’s lips thinned. “You were assigned the task of following Potter because you, of all my followers, know him best. He is the only remaining thorn in my side in this war. Find him, Severus.” An unspoken ‘or else’ echoed in his voice. Voldemort stood and exited.

The rest of the Death Eaters followed, leaving Severus alone. He drummed his fingers on the table and allowed his shoulders to slump slightly. He was tired; the double role that he fulfilled, as an apparently loyal Death Eater and a Horcrux hunter, was taking its toll. His efforts would be more effective if somebody on the other side knew of his unwavering loyalty, but who would believe him now?

Author’s Notes:

Here is the continuation to a little piece that has been nagging me for expansion. I finally got tired of its whiny voice and gave in.

Thank you very much to Rhiannon for beta'ing! Your insight was highly appreciated.