Desperate Times, Desperate Measures

Desperate Times, Desperate Measures
Zyta

Disclaimer: I don’t own any of the characters or the world that they are playing within- that honor goes to the genius JK Rowling. I’m just playing with her toys, but I promise to give them back with all their hair and clothes in tact. Maybe. I don’t make money from this, and I doubt anyone would pay anyway.

A/N: Slash. If you don’t like Male/Male pairings with sex involved then you shouldn’t read this. There’s also quite a bit crude language in here, mostly the F dash dash dash word. If you’re uncomfortable with adult language, move on to the monkey bars kiddies. This is the adult’s sandbox.

This story was an idea born from one question. What if Snape decided to ‘save his own neck’?


(¯`•._.•[Chapter II]•._.•´¯)
Falling Further Behind And In Between

He was gone long before Remus had finally wakened from a surprisingly restful night. The place where Snape had rested was empty, and the sheets cold to the touch of his rough padded fingertips. Remus ran his hand through his tousled hair, wondering exactly what had happened to Snape. Even wondering if he was feeling better now.

He shook it off, surmounting it to nothing more than the Slytherin’s always odd and erratic behavior. He climbed out of bed with a groan, not at all happy about leaving the warm blankets. Summer had long since turned into Fall, and the weather with it. He rubbed his arms, hoping to work some warmth into his skin, as he made his way into the bathroom.

The morning routine of showering, shaving, brushing his teeth, and making his tired and haggard appearance a little less so was always the sort of mundane thing that helped to balance his turbulent nights. There would be another meeting today, around lunch, and he fully expected Snape to be his usual unpleasant self. After what had occurred, Remus was welcoming a little sneering across the table.

He quickly donned his rather worse for wear robes and trudged out into the hallway. Working his way towards the kitchen for a quick bite before getting his reports in order. The bright smile of Molly immediately roused one in kind from him, and the steaming food set out on the table made his stomach grumble in a complimentary way. Days with meetings were often his favorite, since they fell not only on Saturday but also meant good food and company.

“Morning Remus.” Molly greeted as she bustled over with a plate. Remus sat himself down just as the plate clinked before him, and he nodded to her.

“Morning Molly.” He replied, already reaching over to put a healthy spoonful of fluffy scrambled eggs down. The balding red head of Arthur was partially obscured by the Daily Prophet, and Remus frowned as he spied the picture on the front page. The unmistakable visage of the Dark Mark floating above a wooded area, with a log cabin resting before the tree line. “An attack?”

Molly muttered something about manners at the table as she walked by Arthur, who looked towards her sheepishly before folding the paper and placing it down beside his plate. “Mm.” He stated, still chewing on a bit of bacon as his eyes met Remus’. He swallowed before continuing. “Found an unidentified man there. Although, Kingsley came by earlier, said it was definitely a Death Eater.”

Remus’ eyes widened slightly, setting down the fork as his appetite fled. “Unidentified?”

Arthur gazed over his shoulder, making sure Molly was busy with the tea and coffee before turning back and nodding. “He was in a bad way.” He moved a hand over his face with a slight grimace. “Or so Kingsley said. Ran out at the first smell of food.”

“Severus?” Remus asked, coming out more of a breath then he would have liked. He knew where Snape was most of the night, but was never the less concerned that the murder could have happened sometime after he left.

Arthur shook his head, and Remus felt his heart slow to a normal beat again. “No- this fellow was sandy haired. Bigger build, too. And Snape already checked in with Dumbledore this morning. Although, he was worried there, for a bit.” Arthur took another bite of bacon as Molly came back over and sat down the coffee pot. “Didn’t know where he was last night, after the summons.”

Remus nodded absently and poured himself a strong cup of coffee. Arthur continued after Molly had sat down. “I suppose we’ll find out more at the meeting.”

“I hope so.” Remus said softly, and then forced himself to eat some toast after receiving a pointed look from Molly.

••.•´¯`•.•• ••.•´¯`•.••

More members of the Order of the Phoenix trickled in one at a time. Tonks had arrived shortly after Remus had settled back to read the Daily Prophet for himself, her hair bright orange and wearing leather pants with about four belts encircling around them. He greeted her with a slight nod before returning to the article. Moody and Kingsley were next, both looking extremely agitated. While that was a normal sight for Moody, Kingsley almost never seemed very upset. This time, however, it was clear that he was shaken by something he had seen.

When Remus walked over to ask him about it, all he got was a rough, “at the meeting.” Remus nodded then, seeing that speaking with the Aurors would get him nowhere, and trudged off to collect his notes.

By the time Dumbledore arrived to start, Snape still hadn’t shown up. Remus was beginning to grow concerned. When he filed into the meeting room, behind several other witches and wizards, he had caught the Headmaster’s eyes. Dumbledore stopped to squeeze Remus’ shoulder, with a very calm look across his face that Remus wasn’t feeling. “He’ll be along. Bit behind on his classes.” Dumbledore said, and Remus ducked quickly out and found a seat before the old Wizard had a chance to delve any deeper into his thoughts.

Since Snape was the last person who had yet to arrive, a few conversations began breaking out around the table as they all waited. Remus himself folded his arms, staring down at the tabletop, with an uneasy feeling growing in the pit of his stomach. It wasn’t like Snape to be late; he was usually right on time for every meeting. When he put that in account with last night Remus definitely thought something was amiss.

After twenty minutes, it seemed everyone elss ths thinking the same thing.

Dumbledore cleared his throat, and the room fell silent. “Well, while we wait for Professor Snape to join us, why don’t we get started with the agreed agenda before moving into last night’s murder. Remus, is your report ready?”

Remus straightened up in his chair, trying to dispel the concerned expression on his face as he nodded sharply once and took out his parchment. He delved into his report to take his mind of Snape’s increasing lateness. He spoke the facts as they were jotted down, the Were colonies beginning to take an interest in their side rather than Voldemort’s, relatively sparse Dementor sightings, and his own slow progress in tracking them down.

Arthur followed him with what was going on in the Ministry. The new regulations that were universally agreed to be useless against Voldemort’s growing power, and how Fudge was now attempting to get the Ministry prepared after the last year. By the time they had moved over to Moody, Remus was already loosing focus in the discussions. An hour and a half had gone by since the appointed time. Snape was never, never, this late.

He risked glancing over at Dumbledore, who was sucking away on some candy as he listened to the table. And then, the old wizard’s head turned and their eyes met. Remus could see that they were lined with worry, and glimmered with fear. Remus again lowered his own amber eyes, gazing down at the dark grained wood. Albus Dumbledore was worried. Severus was not simply running late.

At that point, the meeting couldn’t end quickly enough. Remus wanted to leave, go to Hogwarts and make certain everything was all right. It was a period of restlessness as the line worked their way through Bill and then Charlie, finally to Tonks and then on to Kingsley. When everyone had finished and looked to Dumbledore, the Headmaster sighed. The sound brought Remus’ head back up to regard him.

“It appears something has come up. I will try to relate Severus’ report from our meeting this morning.” Everyone was silent as Dumbledore leaned back. When he spoke, in his ancient and paper-thin voice, he had everyone’s full attention. “As you all know, Severus has been growing increasingly concerned that Voldemort-“ there was a noticeable wince from everyone, “has been doubting his loyalty as of late. It appears that he has spoken to the Death Eaters several times of a spy amidst them, especially after Lucius Malfoy’s capture and our duel at the Ministry.”

Remus had known all this before, but like everyone else, had thought this was either due to Snape or Voldemort’s paranoia. But as Dumbledore spoke with a heavy conviction, it seemed less likely to be the normal dangers of undercover work. “What you all do not know, is that Voldemort has been systematically torturing the Death Eaters randomly, in hopes of rooting the spy out. Severus, I’m afraid, is the only one to have this occur three times. Where as the rest have endured a single test.”

Remus felt his stomach drop. His hands began becoming uncomfortably clammy, and he had to wipe them on his robes several times.

Dumbledore continued, seemingly oblivious to the horror on many faces around him. “Last night came to a culmination of the last few months. The Death Eater who was murdered, a Mr. Shelard, was accused by one of his peers. Severus suspects it had more to do with a business deal gone awry than any actual bases, but Voldemort took the accusation quite seriously. I will not go into details, as Severus did not share them with me, but it is quite obvious that Mr. Shelard’s death was neither quick nor painless.”

“After Mr. Shelard was finally given the killing curse, Voldemort turned on Severus. Again, I do not know what he did, but it is clear that Cruciatus was used for quite some time- judging by his appearance. I assume this means that Severus is still under heavy suspicion.”

There was a resounding silence.

“Now, I expect that the identity should help you piece together some story for Mr. Shelard’s family, Mr. Kingsley. Now then, onto the recruitment efforts within Slytherin.”

Dumbledore went on to list several candidates, but Remus was no longer listening. That would certainly explain why Snape had been so shaken the previous night, why he had desperately sought comfort. Voldemort, it appeared, had issued his final warning to Snape. Perhaps not spoken, but Voldemort needed no words to incite terror into a Wizard’s heart.

Although Remus had always known that Snape being discovered was a possibility, it seemed so unlikely. He was cunning, and so very intelligent. And Remus had not lied to Harry when he told him that Snape was an excellent Occlumens, he had to be. Yet, it appeared that Snape’s inability to thwart Dumbledore or hand over Harry’s head was cluing Voldemort into the fact something was very wrong with what he thought was his spy. Time was running out for Snape.

As Remus looked back up, a very livid anger burned in his eyes as Dumbledore met them. “I think that settles today’s meeting. Same time next week.” As the members of the Order began standing and filing out, Remus remained seated. Pinning Dumbledore with the same hating, accusing, glare. Dumbledore’s eyes widened in surprise, before comprehension dawned within blu blue depths, “Remus, if you and I could discuss a matter in private?”

Remus wanted to snort in Dumbledore’s face for that request, but he only remained silent as the rest filed out quicker. When the door shut, with a resounding click, Remus spoke his first words. “You’re allowing him to return?”

In an instant Dumbledore went from the benign leader or legend to an old man who was simply very tired. His shoulders slumped slightly with defeat, and his eyes clouded over with regret. “I’m afraid I have no choice, Remus. We need the information badly, and Severus is prepared to endure the danger.”

“Information for his life?” He retorted. “Surely there’s another way!”

“I am searching for a new spy.” Dumbledore replied, in a gentle voice meant to comfort. “Until one is found, Severus must continue as he has.”

Remus pressed his lips firmly together in displeasure. “And when he is replaced? What then? You don’t just leave the fold.”

“When I have a replacement who is above suspicion, Severus will be confined within Hogwarts until the end of the war for his own protection.” Dumbledore answered, as if it was very well rehearsed.

“Oh yes,” Remus spat, “we saw how well that worked out for Sirius.” His eyes widened then, as it dawned on him what he had just said and to whom.

Dumbledore didn’t appear angry, only more sad and regretful. “I am hoping that Severus will learn from Sirius’ mistake.”

Remus closed his mouth tightly, his teeth snapping together as he did. He then stood, nodding curtly to Dumbledore, before turning and wrenching the door open. He slammed it with a satisfying crash as he stepped through. Ignoring Tonks’ worried call and marching up the staircase to his bedroom.

There, he collapsed onto his bed and buried his face in his hands. Feeling as if he were about to loose Sirius all over again.

••.•´¯`•.•• ••.•´¯`•.••

It would not be until later that evening, after the house had been emptied, that he would discover Snape must have agreed with his own helpless assessment of the situation.

Remus had been sitting at the kitchen table, nursing a hot cup of tea, when the fire roared to emerald green. He turned his head, and watched as Dumbledore emerged from the flames. There was a pinched look about his face, a mixture of both dread and worry that made Remus’ heart stop briefly as he wondered who had now died. “Sir?” He finally managed to choke out.

Dumbledore glanced around the kitchen, searching, before resting his eyes back on Remus. “Is Severus here, Remus?”

At first, he had been startled that Dumbledore would think to look here. Then, a bit embarrassed at the thought of why the Headmaster would suspect. The embarrassment faded to worry, as he noted the urgent expression on Dumbledore’s face as he waited for the answer Remus had yet to give. “No, he’s not.”

“Do you have any idea where he might be?” Dumbledore then asked.

Remus frowned lightly. “No. What’s this about, Albus?”

“Severus has been missing since this morning.” Dumbledore told him, sounding older than Remus could ever recall hearing him. The Headmaster dropped onto the opposite bench across the table, his blue robes still covered with soot. “I’ve checked his rooms once the students began complaining he never showed up for their Remedial Potions. I was already a bit worried when he was not in his office after the meeting, but I assumed he was simply off gathering ingredients for his research project.” Dumbledore’s eyes met Remus’. “But, I found his rooms have been emptied.”

“What?” Remus whispered, clutching his cup tighter. “What do you mean by emptied?”

“It would appear that Severus has packed everything away and has, for lack of a better term, gone on the run.” Dumbledore replied just as softly, his face a study in regret. “Minerva is searching through Hogsmede, but I don’t believe she’ll find him there- as he’s never really cared for the atmosphere. Hagrid is combing the Forbidden Forest.”

Remus felt as if his lips were glued shut. He had no idea what to say.

Dumbledore plowed ahead. “Tonks is working her way through London.” He looked up. “Please stay here, in case he tries to contact you. I’m afraid other than myself- you are the only other person he may try to talk to. If he does-“ the Headmaster paused, throat constricting, “tell him I understand and just wish to know that he is safe.”

“I-“ Remus forced himself to stop clenching the china, “I’d like to help search for him.”

“Better to stay here, Remus, and hope he’ll send an owl.” Dumbledore replied gently.

But Remus had the feeling that Snape had already said what he needed to the night before. Still, he muttered something to appease Dumbledore, just before the wizard stood and left. Leaving Remus alone in Sirius’ kitchen, staring into a quickly cooling cup.

“Where are you?” He wondered aloud. Unfortunately, the walls had no answer for him.

••.•´¯`•.•• ••.•´¯`•.••